The government-funded research institute run until recently by science minister Chris McDonald has entered insolvency proceedings. Doesn’t bode well…The Materials Processing Institute, the Teesside research centre run by Labour minister Chris McDonald for a decade, has begun proceedings under the Insolvency Act. McDonald was chief executive of the institute from 2014 to 2024, having led its divestment from Tata Steel. The role carries oversight of UK Research and Innovation. With a hefty public purse at its disposal…The MPI has been a repeat recipient of millions of public funding through UKRI – the body McDonald now oversees.