MOTOR DESIGN LTD

Their core work

Motor Design Ltd is a UK engineering SME specialising in the design and simulation of electric motors and power drives for demanding applications. Based in Wrexham, Wales, they provide specialist engineering services across the full development cycle of electrical machines — from concept and electromagnetic design through to performance validation. Their project work demonstrates expertise in both automotive and aerospace electrification, working on drivetrains that push boundaries in efficiency, reliability, and weight reduction. They function as a niche technical contributor in multi-partner R&D consortia, bringing motor design depth that larger industrial partners typically lack in-house.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Motor Design's early H2020 engagement (ReFreeDrive, 2017) was rooted in a very specific materials and manufacturing challenge — building competitive electric drives without rare earth elements, a concern driven by supply chain politics and cost pressures in the automotive sector. By 2020, their focus had shifted toward reliability engineering and multi-domain propulsion platforms, with DORNA targeting aerospace-grade electric drives where failure tolerance is paramount. The trajectory is clear: from cost-reduction innovation in automotive motors toward high-specification, safety-critical propulsion for electric aircraft — a significantly more demanding and potentially more lucrative application domain.

Motor Design is moving up the value chain from automotive cost optimisation toward aerospace-grade electric propulsion, where technical barriers are higher and specialist design firms command stronger positioning.

How they like to work

Motor Design has participated in every project as a consortium partner, never as coordinator — a pattern consistent with a focused technical specialist that joins teams to solve specific engineering problems rather than to lead broad programmes. Their 32 unique partners across just 2 projects indicates participation in large, diverse consortia, suggesting they are comfortable operating within complex multi-stakeholder R&D structures. This profile makes them a reliable specialist contributor: well-networked, experienced in EU project environments, but without the administrative overhead of leading calls themselves.

Motor Design has collaborated with 32 unique partners spanning 12 countries from just two projects, reflecting the broad consortium composition typical of RIA and MSCA-RISE schemes. Their network is European in character, likely spanning automotive OEMs, aerospace suppliers, universities, and research institutes across Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

Motor Design occupies a rare niche: an SME with deep, specialist competence in electrical machine design that is directly applicable to two of Europe's most active electrification frontiers — road transport and aviation. Unlike large industrial partners who treat motor design as one capability among many, Motor Design's entire identity is built around this domain, which typically means faster turnaround, sharper focus, and genuine engineering depth rather than generalist support. For consortium builders in the electric mobility or electric aviation space, they offer credible SME representation combined with real technical substance.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ReFreeDrive
  This RIA project (2017–2021, EUR 593,325 to Motor Design) tackled the strategic problem of eliminating rare earth elements from electric drivetrains — a topic with direct industrial relevance to automotive supply chain independence and cost reduction.
• DORNA
  Running to 2025 and targeting electric aircraft propulsion, DORNA represents Motor Design's most ambitious project scope, combining high-reliability engineering requirements with the emerging and rapidly growing electric aviation sector.