Change passwordForgotten password Edit personal details
  • Staff and students
  • Solent
  • Warsash Maritime
  • Sports Complex
  • Students' Union
  • Applicants
  • Media hub
  • Apps
  • Find support
  • Documents
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility statement

© Solent University

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
  1. Home
  2. Media hub
  3. News
  4. The SMART Centre is now open
Three men working in SMART Centre

The SMART Centre is now open

15 January 2026

Today, Thursday 15 January, Solent welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to campus for the opening of the new SMART Centre.

The SMART Centre is home to the South Coast Institute of Technology (IoT), based in the Sir Christopher Cockerell building at East Park Terrace.

The centre consists of laboratories and specialist workshops, including a materials testing lab, welding workshop, lathes and mills and composite lab, which will be used by our maritime, science and engineering students.

This major investment encompasses the latest equipment used in the country’s biggest industries, to enable us to train students and apprentices with hands-on experience across a broad range of disciplines.

During her visit to Solent, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal received a tour of this cutting-edge facility and met our Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Knowles. The Princess Royal was able to see first-hand what initiatives such as the IoT can achieve, and we look forward to sharing the many success stories that will undoubtedly come from it.

Read more >

About the IoT

The IoT is a partnership of universities, colleges and employers from across the region, whose aim it is to boost the future success of students while underpinning the sustainability of industry.

Supported by more than £15m in funding from the Department for Education, the partnership, which is led by Southampton Solent University, serves today’s biggest industries, from maritime and engineering to digital. 

Find out more about the IoT >

Tags:

General news
Engineering and yacht design
Maritime
Maritime
Staff - Campus info

Related articles

View all news
  • news
    Details of Hampshire Cricket Club's offer for Solent staff and students
    General

    £10 Vitality Blast tickets with Hampshire Hawks

    The Vitality Blast is back for 2026 and Solent’s collaboration with Hampshire CC is providing discounted tickets for staff and students

    8 April 2026
  • news
    solent-spark-banner
    General news

    Celebrate staff who make a difference

    Nominate a staff member for the 'You make a difference’ award

    31 March 2026
  • news
    A photo of a wrap
    General news

    Now delivering food to you in residences

    Freshly prepared meals from the Dock delivered to your room, from Monday 30 March

    26 March 2026
  • news
    Solent's Sports Hall
    General

    Come and celebrate Blades’ success

    Staff and students are being encouraged to celebrate the success of Weston Park Blades on Sunday

    25 March 2026