The announcement coincided with a recent award given to the university by the US Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as part of its new Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP), which was created to introduce MSc and PhD students to common pipeline integrity challenges.

The CAAP is also aimed at demonstrating how MS and PhD students' engineering or technical backgrounds might contribute to the field of pipeline safety.

As part of the agreement, Applus RTD and Kiefner will provide a strong technical background with applied knowledge of the industry for students to call upon.

This relationship will, in turn, allow students to see how their research is directly affecting the industry and aim to provide a better focus for research and development in the future.

Kiefner president Martin Fingerhut said that through the relationship, the company could realise a vision for engaging the academic community for developing novel solutions for the pipeline industry, simultaneously enhancing the opportunity for graduate and PhD students through participation in solving common pipeline industry problems, via the administration's CAAP.

US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said: "Safety is a top priority and we're committed to investing in innovative technologies that will strengthen our nation's pipeline system well into the future."