- Collaboration will focus on the key innovation challenge for advanced materials
- First step towards joint ambition to develop the concept of a National Advanced Materials Verification Centre to serve the UK advanced materials community
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Henry Royce Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), stating a commitment to collaborate further and formalising strategic engagement. The signing of the MoU is an initial step towards the joint ambition to develop the concept of a National Advanced Materials Verification Centre to serve the UK advanced materials community and to provide confidence and accelerate the commercialisation of these game-changing materials.
Initially the collaboration will focus on the key innovation challenge for advanced materials, namely building confidence in the repeatability and reproducibility of the characterisation of the materials, through NPL’s measurement expertise and Royce’s state of the art facilities. It will also support the development of postgraduate doctoral and broader training in the above areas.
As the UK’s National Metrology Institute, NPL recognises that innovation in advanced materials is crucial in helping to solve many of the grand challenges we see in our world today, from energy and transport to healthcare and the digital economy. Our experts bridge the gap between academic discovery and industrial implementation, developing the required measurement science that provides confidence in the performance and long-term reliability of materials in real world applications.
Speaking about the partnership, JT Janssen, Chief Scientist, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) stated:
“NPL and the Henry Royce Institute share common goals in the Advanced Materials sector with a view to stimulating growth and giving confidence to Industry. Now more than ever it’s crucial to accelerate advanced materials development to support the national challenges and aide the economic recovery. This MoU will formalise the relationship and create opportunities through a challenge-led approach.”
Prof. David Knowles, CEO at the Henry Royce Institute said:
“Collaboration around both the development and the application of advanced materials is key to meeting the societal environmental and economic challenges we face today and Royce is delighted to enter into this MoU with NPL, which will see us combine expertise around advanced materials innovation and cutting-edge materials metrology. There is an ever-increasing need for independent and standardised protocols and methods for the assessment of emerging materials and applications. We therefore look forward to progressing a joint ambition for a new National Advanced Materials Verification Centre to serve the materials community and in particular to support industry with the uptake of new materials.”
This initiative comes at a critical time in the development of the Royce vision of ‘Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Society’ and as NPL continues to support the UK government’s levelling up agenda. The aim is to create joint activities aligned across both institutions, whilst addressing the vision and supporting the UK economy.
NPL’s research in advanced materials spans a number of areas at NPL, take a look at the research we are doing:
- Electronic and magnetic materials
- Graphene
- Surface Technology
- Quantum Technologies
- Electrochemistry
- Bio Metrology
- Dimensional
- Advanced materials
Enquiries
Judith Holcroft
Royce Communications & Engagement Manager
