RESEARCH NEWS
£ 2.54 million funding into metamaterials
A £ 2.54m grant is enabling a new network driving research into metamaterials , headed by a researcher from The University of Warwick in the UK .
“ Metamaterials have phenomenal potential . They are artificial 3D structures comprised of at least two different materials . This combination and the structure give metamaterials properties beyond those of the materials used to make them . These properties may be electromagnetic ; acoustic ; magnetic ; mechanical / structural ; thermal or chemical ,” said the university .
“ Metamaterials could transform our economy in a digital age , helping to address society ’ s challenges by contributing to manufacturing in areas of sustainability ; healthcare ; communications ; defence and security ; computation techniques and the space and aviation industries ,” it added .
Now , with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council ( EPSRC ), a branch of UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ), 13 universities and five organisations will lead on enhancing the UK ’ s capabilities in creating novel and innovative metamaterials .
The UK Metamaterials NetworkPlus will build on the work of the UK Metamaterials Network , which was established in 2021 . It will
be co-led by Dr . Claire Dancer , Reader , WMG , at The University of Warwick , and Professor Alastair Hibbins , Director of the University of Exeter ’ s Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation , alongside a team of co-project leads from across the UK .
“ The EPSRC grant will run for over four years from 1 March 2024 , and will help to develop game-changing breakthroughs . It will build the UK ’ s skills pipeline , driving through generationafter-next technology and high-value products ,” explained The University of Warwick .
Warwick will lead on researching manufacturing challenges for metamaterials such as co-processing challenging combinations of materials and establishing routes for scaled-up production of metamaterials currently made by non-scalable processes . It will build on the university ’ s expertise across the materials manufacturing sector and existing High Value Manufacturing Catapult activities at WMG .
The UK Metamaterials NetworkPlus will bring together experts from academia , industry and government to accelerate progress towards the UK ’ s technological priorities . The NetworkPlus formally launched at the Metamaterials UK Conference and Forum from 19-23 May 2024 .
Co-project leads for the award are based at the University of Exeter ; the University of Warwick ; the University of Cambridge ; the University of Sheffield ; Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of St Andrews . Members of the leadership team are also based at Sheffield Hallam ; Queen Mary University ; the UK ’ s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory ( Dstl ); MBDA Systems ; Imperial College London ; Manchester Metropolitan ; the University of Nottingham ; M . Ventures ; QinetiQ ; Durham University and the National Physics Laboratory ( NPL ). n
https
:// warwick . ac . uk / fac / sci / wmg /
http :// metamaterials . network
Industry-research partnership on medtech
Australian medical device company , Signature Orthopaedics , is partnering with leading Medtech researchers at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University in Australia . The three-way strategic partnership connects research in biomedical engineering , health , medicine , technology development and design with one of Australia ’ s Medtech enterprises .
Signature Orthopaedics ’ CEO , Dr . Declan Brazil , confirmed that its focus would be collaborative R & D in specific areas of clinical and technological innovation .
“ Together , we will develop a clinical test bed for new materials , designs and methods in orthopaedic implants and devices , and connect our joint talent to amplify scientific and industry leadership across Australia ’ s growing Medtech sector . This partnership ’ s goal is to bring to market new and personalised medical implant technologies that can improve health outcomes and quality of life ,” he said .
The partnership strengthens Melbourne ’ s position as an emerging hub for Medtech research , teaching and commercialisation , as well as RMIT and the University of
Dr . Declan Brazil taking researchers on a tour of the Signature Orthopaedics ’ manufacturing facility .
Melbourne ’ s roles as major players in the sector . It also complements considerable investments by the two universities , plus the Victorian Government , into Medtech training and skills development .
Other joint initiatives to date include the Victorian Medtech Skills and Devices Hub and facilities at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery , an Australian biomedical engineering research translation centre opening in 2025 .
“ The advantages of working directly with implant manufacturers , such as Signature Orthopaedics , and with clinicians from hospitals at the early stages of the project are immense ,” added Professor Peter Lee , from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne . “ It enables us to identify the project ’ s ‘ pain points ’ early and develop solutions to overcome them . Unlike the traditional idea of prototyping when technology is nearly finalised , this partnership will accelerate our research for clinical applications benefiting patients .”
Signature Orthopaedics , established in Sydney in 2009 by Dr . Declan Brazil , is the only manufacturer of implantable orthopaedic devices in Australia , said RMIT . It has set up additional manufacturing and distribution facilities in Europe and North America .
Earlier this year , RMIT created a 3D-printed metamaterial titanium alloy structure boasting levels of strength for weight not normally seen in nature or manufacturing which , it said , “ could change how we make everything from medical implants to aircraft or rocket parts .” n
www . rmit . edu . au
www . signatureortho . com . au
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