St Andrews research crucial in creating a metamaterials-enabled future

The University of St Andrews has played a key role in developing a new national roadmap that aims to position the UK at the forefront of metamaterials innovation and commercialisation.

Metamaterials highlights the UK’s world-leading research strengths and sets out a strategy to translate scientific excellence into economic growth, industrial capability and societal benefit. 

A metamaterial is a 3D structure with a response or function due to the collective effect of meta-atom elements that is not possible to achieve conventionally with any individual constituent material. Its thought that metamaterials technologies are poised to transform multiple sectors. Potential applications include technologies for managing extreme temperatures and recovering waste heat, next-generation augmented reality optics, advanced biosensing, more efficient solar energy systems and wireless power transfer.

The roadmap has been developed through a collaborative effort across government, academia and industry, facilitated by the Institute of Physics and supported by the UK Metamaterials Network. It identifies five priority themes for action: ecosystem, innovation, manufacturing, assurance and skills.

The UK is currently ranked first in the world for the impact of its metamaterials research, according to a UK Government Rapid Technology Assessment. However, the roadmap warns that without coordinated action to support scale-up, manufacturing capability and market adoption, the UK risks losing its competitive advantage internationally. 

Professor Andrea Di Falco, from the University of St Andrews and co-lead for fundamental sciences activities within the UK Metamaterials Network, said: “The UK has an exceptional track record in metamaterials research. The next challenge is to strengthen the pathways that turn scientific breakthroughs into products, companies and economic impact.

“This roadmap sets out a strong national strategy to accelerate the commercialisation of metamaterials, recognising that success will depend on effective connections between researchers, manufacturers, investors, end users and policymakers, including through place-based innovation ecosystems aligned with national priorities.

“By strengthening these connections, we can accelerate the adoption of metamaterials technologies and ensure that the UK captures the full economic and societal value of its world-leading research.”

Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment, said: “Metamaterials represent a significant opportunity to strengthen the UK’s technology and industrial base, supporting economic growth, and solving societal challenges.

“Realising this opportunity will depend on our ability to translate cutting-edge research into commercially viable products and new industrial solutions. I welcome the publication of the Metamaterials Commercialisation Roadmap and its vision for accelerating innovation, attracting investment and building the partnerships needed to position the UK at the forefront of the transformative potential of metamaterials.”

Professor Alastair Hibbins (University of Exeter) and Dr Claire Dancer (University of Birmingham) co-leads of the UK Metamaterials Network (EPSRC funded), said: ‘Building on the UK’s world-leading academic excellence, research, training, and metamaterials community the launch of the UK Metamaterials Commercialisation Roadmap represents a defining moment, positioning the UK at the forefront of an enabling and transformative technology. We see the Roadmap charting a course towards the UK becoming a global leader in commercialising metamaterials research and innovation, contributing to our nation’s security and prosperity. Realising this ambition depends on coordinated community action, driven by the community activities of the UK Metamaterials Network’s c.1300 academic, industry, and government members, to fully harness the UK’s competitive advantage in metamaterials.’

The need to accelerate manufacturing of metamaterials is clear as both a significant opportunity and as a bottleneck to commercialisation, and the roadmap describes key targets along the path towards a strong UK industrial base in metamaterials manufacturing.

https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/st-andrews-research-crucial-in-creating-a-metamaterials-enabled-future/