SYnthesizing 3D METAmaterials for RF, microwave and THz applications (SYMETA)
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Wolfson Sch of Mech, Elec & Manufac Eng
Abstract
The outcomes of SYnthesizing 3D METAmaterials for RF, Microwave and THz Applications (SYMETA) have the potential for significant academic, economic, societal and environmental impacts. To achieve these outcomes SYMETA will bring together leading expertise in engineering, physics and materials science from five institutions: Loughborough University, University of Exeter, University of Sheffield, Oxford University and Queen Mary, University of London together with twelve industrial partners from a range of sectors including defence and electronics manufacture. The Grand Challenge will be led by Loughborough University.
SYMETA responds to Grand Challenge 3: Engineering across length scales, from atoms to applications. This Challenge area requires researchers to consider design across the scales for both products and systems looking at new approaches to bridge the meso-scale (intermediate-scale) gap and taking into consideration that many engineering systems are dynamic. SYMETA's grand vision is to deliver a palette of novel, multi-functional 3D metamaterials (synthetic composite materials with structure that exhibit properties not usually found in natural materials) using emerging additive manufacturing (AM), with the potential to support a single 'design-build' process. Our goal, to compile a palette of meta-atoms (the basic building blocks of metamaterials) and then to organise these inclusions systematically to give the desired bulk properties, opens up a plethora of new structures. This will not only improve existing applications but inspire new applications by breaking down barriers to innovation.
Introducing these novel structures into the complex world of electronic design will offer a radical new way of designing and manufacturing electronics. The metamaterials will be developed to give end-users the electromagnetic responses they require, for a wide range of communication, electronics, energy and defence applications. The meta-atoms comprising the metamaterial will be micro-scale, i.e. small in comparison to the wavelength of operation, and fabricated from a range of new and existing raw materials, including the incorporation of dielectric, metallic and magnetic components. They will facilitate complex multi-component systems, incorporating elements such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors through to transmission lines and matching circuits and filters, to be created in hybrid and multi system AM - reducing waste, cost and timescales.
The SYMETA project has three overarching research goals:
1. To synthesize a palette of 3D meta-atoms using suitable materials.
2. To construct designer-specified 3D arrangements of meta-atoms using process efficient AM to create metamaterials
3. To build demonstrators for applications at RF, microwave and THz frequency ranges.
Supplementing these research goals SYMETA will:
4. Build a cohort of new knowledge by bringing together multi-disciplinary expertise from a number of institutions and companies and share this knowledge across academic networks.
5. Engage industry, sector relevant professional bodies and the wider academic community to ensure that the potential of this research is recognised and realised. To translate and condense the exciting science to key messages and outcomes and to communicate these to the public to boost the public understanding of science.
The likely impacts of the SYMETA are manifold. It has the potential to transform manufacturing processes and to significantly shorten the time it takes for innovative new technologies to reach consumers whilst reducing waste and removing some of the more harmful processes associated with the manufacturing such as the use of harsh chemicals. This is transformation science, which could place the UK at the leading edge of engineering innovation stimulating economic growth and opening up huge potential for innovation in many sectors from consumer electronics through to defence and space.
SYMETA responds to Grand Challenge 3: Engineering across length scales, from atoms to applications. This Challenge area requires researchers to consider design across the scales for both products and systems looking at new approaches to bridge the meso-scale (intermediate-scale) gap and taking into consideration that many engineering systems are dynamic. SYMETA's grand vision is to deliver a palette of novel, multi-functional 3D metamaterials (synthetic composite materials with structure that exhibit properties not usually found in natural materials) using emerging additive manufacturing (AM), with the potential to support a single 'design-build' process. Our goal, to compile a palette of meta-atoms (the basic building blocks of metamaterials) and then to organise these inclusions systematically to give the desired bulk properties, opens up a plethora of new structures. This will not only improve existing applications but inspire new applications by breaking down barriers to innovation.
Introducing these novel structures into the complex world of electronic design will offer a radical new way of designing and manufacturing electronics. The metamaterials will be developed to give end-users the electromagnetic responses they require, for a wide range of communication, electronics, energy and defence applications. The meta-atoms comprising the metamaterial will be micro-scale, i.e. small in comparison to the wavelength of operation, and fabricated from a range of new and existing raw materials, including the incorporation of dielectric, metallic and magnetic components. They will facilitate complex multi-component systems, incorporating elements such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors through to transmission lines and matching circuits and filters, to be created in hybrid and multi system AM - reducing waste, cost and timescales.
The SYMETA project has three overarching research goals:
1. To synthesize a palette of 3D meta-atoms using suitable materials.
2. To construct designer-specified 3D arrangements of meta-atoms using process efficient AM to create metamaterials
3. To build demonstrators for applications at RF, microwave and THz frequency ranges.
Supplementing these research goals SYMETA will:
4. Build a cohort of new knowledge by bringing together multi-disciplinary expertise from a number of institutions and companies and share this knowledge across academic networks.
5. Engage industry, sector relevant professional bodies and the wider academic community to ensure that the potential of this research is recognised and realised. To translate and condense the exciting science to key messages and outcomes and to communicate these to the public to boost the public understanding of science.
The likely impacts of the SYMETA are manifold. It has the potential to transform manufacturing processes and to significantly shorten the time it takes for innovative new technologies to reach consumers whilst reducing waste and removing some of the more harmful processes associated with the manufacturing such as the use of harsh chemicals. This is transformation science, which could place the UK at the leading edge of engineering innovation stimulating economic growth and opening up huge potential for innovation in many sectors from consumer electronics through to defence and space.
Planned Impact
The outcomes of SYMETA have the potential for significant academic, economic, societal and environmental impacts. Academically, it will bring together expertise which has been made possible by the rapid advancement of the technological age to bring into reality concepts which have previously been restricted to theoretical investigations. In the research field, the project will open up new avenues of scientific enquiry with the potential to push forward the knowledge boundaries of several specialist areas from pure physics through to manufacturing science. The academic impact of the project is described in detail in the section 'Academic Beneficiaries'.
From an economic perspective, the outcomes of SYMETA will transform the design and manufacture of electronic components and circuitry. Production times will be reduced, the time taken for new technologies to reach their end beneficiaries drastically cut and the costs associated with mass manufacture reduced as waste and time lines are cut. This will be transformational not only for component manufacturers but for the multitude of industries who use these components from space and defence through to consumer electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones, tablet computers). The technology will enable industries to realise many of the aspirations encapsulated in lean manufacturing an important impact as the 2020 vision for the UK electronics sector is to grow the sector's economic contribution to the economy from £78 billion today to £120 billion, presenting an annual growth rate of 6% (Electronics Systems Challenges & Opportunities Report).
As the technology impacts on industry the skills profiles required for the technical workforces that support these industries, are likely to move away from traditional tooling and wet processing to design and 'print' based skills. This will have implications for the training and education of engineers and scientists working in this area. Currently around 856,000 are employed in the UK electronics sector and the sector's goal is to grow this to 1,000,000 by 2020. Exciting research of this kind is attractive to talented potential (and experienced) scientists and researchers. The collaborating institutions will be cascading their research to their teaching activities and developing the engineers and scientists who with the potential to become future industry leaders specialising in this new field. Originating from the UK, the research will establish the UK's reputation as a leading centre of excellence and innovation in this emerging field and ultimately benefit UK Plc.
The societal benefits are manifold. Military staff working in the field could use a 'product printer' to download bespoke software remotely and 'print' essential circuitry or devices without the delay or need for costly transportation. Consumers will be able to access more bespoke, better value for money products and benefit from new technologies without the delays of traditional manufacturing. In settings such as healthcare, professionals will be able to 'print' consumables as required and increasingly design bespoke solutions to medical problems which combine aesthetics with electronic functionality. Currently, the manufacture of electronic components can involve harsh chemical processing resulting in negative environmental impacts both from the manufacturing process and the disposal of component at the end of life. This technology will negate these issues leading to environmental improvements world-wide.
From an economic perspective, the outcomes of SYMETA will transform the design and manufacture of electronic components and circuitry. Production times will be reduced, the time taken for new technologies to reach their end beneficiaries drastically cut and the costs associated with mass manufacture reduced as waste and time lines are cut. This will be transformational not only for component manufacturers but for the multitude of industries who use these components from space and defence through to consumer electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones, tablet computers). The technology will enable industries to realise many of the aspirations encapsulated in lean manufacturing an important impact as the 2020 vision for the UK electronics sector is to grow the sector's economic contribution to the economy from £78 billion today to £120 billion, presenting an annual growth rate of 6% (Electronics Systems Challenges & Opportunities Report).
As the technology impacts on industry the skills profiles required for the technical workforces that support these industries, are likely to move away from traditional tooling and wet processing to design and 'print' based skills. This will have implications for the training and education of engineers and scientists working in this area. Currently around 856,000 are employed in the UK electronics sector and the sector's goal is to grow this to 1,000,000 by 2020. Exciting research of this kind is attractive to talented potential (and experienced) scientists and researchers. The collaborating institutions will be cascading their research to their teaching activities and developing the engineers and scientists who with the potential to become future industry leaders specialising in this new field. Originating from the UK, the research will establish the UK's reputation as a leading centre of excellence and innovation in this emerging field and ultimately benefit UK Plc.
The societal benefits are manifold. Military staff working in the field could use a 'product printer' to download bespoke software remotely and 'print' essential circuitry or devices without the delay or need for costly transportation. Consumers will be able to access more bespoke, better value for money products and benefit from new technologies without the delays of traditional manufacturing. In settings such as healthcare, professionals will be able to 'print' consumables as required and increasingly design bespoke solutions to medical problems which combine aesthetics with electronic functionality. Currently, the manufacture of electronic components can involve harsh chemical processing resulting in negative environmental impacts both from the manufacturing process and the disposal of component at the end of life. This technology will negate these issues leading to environmental improvements world-wide.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Circuit Technology (Collaboration)
- Viper RF Ltd (Collaboration)
- MBDA Missile Systems (Collaboration)
- Thales Group (Collaboration)
- Qinetiq (United Kingdom) (Collaboration)
- Huawei Technologies Sweden AB (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- Radio Design Limited (Collaboration)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- University of Aveiro (Collaboration)
- MTG RESEARCH LTD (Collaboration)
- University of Siena (Collaboration)
- Plextek (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) (Collaboration)
- E2V Technologies (Collaboration)
- Printed Electronics Ltd (Collaboration)
- Center for Dielectrics & Piezoelectrics (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- Filtronic (Collaboration)
Publications
Ahmed F
(2023)
3-D Printable Synthetic Metasurface to Realize 2-D Beam-Steering Antenna
in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
Arya R
(2017)
3D-printed millimeter wave lens antenna
Arya R
(2017)
3D-printed lens antenna
Bradley P
(2018)
Printable all-dielectric water-based absorber
in Scientific Reports
Bradley PJ
(2018)
Printable all-dielectric water-based absorber.
in Scientific reports
Braun H
(2017)
Microwave properties and structure of La-Ti-Si-B-O glass-ceramics for applications in GHz electronics
in Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Bukhari S
(2016)
Composite materials for microwave devices using additive manufacturing
in Electronics Letters
Camacho M
(2017)
Designer surface plasmon dispersion on a one-dimensional periodic slot metasurface with glide symmetry.
in Optics letters
Camacho M
(2017)
Mimicking glide symmetry dispersion with coupled slot metasurfaces
in Applied Physics Letters
| Title | Additive Manufacturing of Metamaterial Structures |
| Description | This research project will asses the feasibility of introducing novel metamaterial structures (nano-micron-meso-macro scale) and the integration of an additive manufacturing process into electronic component design. This interdisciplinary research work will combine the use of materials synthesis, characterisation and novel field assisted processing methodologies to develop customized 3D printing and sintering techniques capable of fabricating hybrid ceramic/metal/polymer metamaterials structures for high frequency applications in electronics, communication, defence etc. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/poster/Additive_Manufacturing_of_Metamaterial_Structures/145... |
| Title | Additive Manufacturing of Next Generation Dielectric Metamaterials for High Frequency Applications |
| Description | This research project will assess the feasibility of introducing novel metamaterials through real integration of advanced manufacturing technologies and material sciences to produce complex structures with characteristics that are not generally offered by existing materials. This could offer a radically new way of designing and manufacturing electronic components with tailored performance characteristics. To achieve this multidisciplinary project, electronic components or substrates comprising of selected ceramic and/or metal meta-atoms of various sizes and shapes will be formulated, fabricated, processed, characterised and their electronic properties measured at high frequencies. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/poster/Additive_Manufacturing_of_Next_Generation_Dielectric_... |
| Title | Field Assisted Processing of 3D Printed Ceramics |
| Description | Fabrication of complex ceramic components involves multiple steps, often is labour & energy intensive. 3D printing of ceramics and their sintering through the application of external fields could pave the way for solving these issues. In this work, the combination of Additive Manufacturing (AM) along with Field Assisted Sintering Techniques (FAST) were employed to manufacture functional ceramics suitable for electronic, communication and healthcare sectors. This poster highlights some of the recent advances. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/poster/Field_Assisted_Processing_of_3D_Printed_Ceramics/1457... |
| Description | SYMETA has developed novel ultra-low loss ceramics that are temperature stable. These ceramics have been processed so that they can be 3D-printed to create graded structures along with multiple materials. Thus enabling graded index lenses to increase the gain and communication range of 5G devices. Furthermore, resonant metamaterials have been manufactured that will be shortly be developed into demonstrators that include miniaturized high gain antennas, increased radar cross-section components, metamaterial sensors, reconfigurable and wave direction sensing capability from GHz to THz. Many (but not all) publications can be freely downloaded here: https://publications.lboro.ac.uk/publications/all/collated/elwgw.html A 27-minute video about Prof. Will Whittow and SYMETA colleagues' research into 3D printed RF devices: https://youtu.be/wQyEJQAwR6I |
| Exploitation Route | This project has generated a substantial quantity of new knowledge in the areas of ceramics, manufacturing via 3D-printing, antennas, and metamaterials. The project has demonstrated how advances in all these individual areas can be combined to create novel radiofrequency materials and applications. A short video of our work can be found here: https://youtu.be/d5ko7WhHUHA A video of one of our papers can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMuOZUVs_k A 27 minute of some of the technical details can be found here: https://youtu.be/wQyEJQAwR6I |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics Energy Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Transport |
| URL | https://www.symeta.co.uk/ |
| Description | Key quantifiable achievements so far include: > 70 high impact journal publications, > 70 Keynote international talks,~ £10M of follow-on funding from grants and industrial projects, and > 100 outreach talks. More details of the project website can be found here: https://www.symeta.co.uk/ A 27-minute video about Prof. Will Whittow and SYMETA colleagues' research into 3D printed RF devices: https://youtu.be/wQyEJQAwR6I |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Education |
| Description | London Regional Defence and Security Cluster organisation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The LRDSC holds a number of values that are at the core of what it has been formed to achieve. We expect all members to uphold the same values: Collaboration: Encouraging collaborative working and partnerships to broaden outreach and increase efficiency Innovation: Fostering and incubating novel ideas and innovation Respect: Inclusivity of membership and opportunity to thrive for all, including the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. Representation: Providing a sector voice and representation, helping to shape the future of D&S People: Investing in our workforce through education, training and skills development |
| Description | Member of enterprise committee for the Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | In particular, I have contributed to the draft of responses to the following questions: • Do you agree with our characterisations of the issues facing UK SMEs, and our potential solutions to these issues? • Are there any other themes, issues or solutions that we have missed? • Is there any work by other organisations on the topics we have included that it would be useful to cite? • Are there any issues or solutions that are candidates for removal? |
| Description | Member of membership committee for the Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | policy changes including EDI considerations in FREng election etc |
| Description | member of ERC starting grant evaluation panel |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The ERC Work Programme will no longer include detailed prescriptive profiles of principal investigators. In the application, the Curriculum Vitae and Track Record will be merged into one document of up to four pages. The applicant will be expected to include - apart from standard biographical information - a list of up to ten research outputs that demonstrate how they have advanced knowledge in their field, with an emphasis on more recent achievements, and a list of selected examples of significant peer recognition (for example, prizes). A short explanation of the significance of the selected outputs, the applicant's role in producing each of them, and how the applicant has demonstrated their capacity to successfully carry out the proposed project can also be included. The applicant may also include relevant information on, for example, career breaks, unusual career paths, as well as any particularly noteworthy contributions to the research community. These will not in themselves be evaluated but are important to provide context to the evaluation panels when assessing the principal investigator's research achievements and peer recognition in relation to their career stage. |
| URL | https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/evaluation-erc-grant-proposals-what-expect-2024 |
| Description | Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) |
| Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | Adaptive Tools for Electromagnetics and Materials Modelling to Bridge the Gap between Design and Manufacturing (AOTOMAT) |
| Amount | £935,611 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P005578/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Anisotropic Microwave/Terahertz Metamaterials for Satellite Applications (ANISAT) |
| Amount | £530,485 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S030301/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC MATERIAL DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FOR FUTURE WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY (DREAM) |
| Amount | £2,579,837 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/X02542X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | Electromagnetic metamaterials for enhanced radar detection of small objects |
| Amount | £541,904 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF\201920\19\256 |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | Innovate UK Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) Programme: Darren Cadman Entrepreneurial Lead for KerAMics |
| Amount | £45,960 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Mid-E-36 |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | MBDA ITP Award: High Temperatuer Conformal Antenna |
| Amount | £83,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | MBDA Missile Systems |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | Rapid manufacture of solid-state battery structures by additive manufacturing and Flash sintering |
| Amount | £240,264 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 10007480 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Industrial Professorship |
| Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGENTIC WAVES (ANIMATE) |
| Amount | £1,631,777 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R035393/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | TERAhertz high power LINKS using photonic devices, tube amplifiers and Smart antennas (TERALINKS) |
| Amount | € 1,000,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | EP/P016421/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | THz Antenna Fabrication and Measurement Facilities (TERRA) |
| Amount | £1,232,783 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S010009/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 11/2021 |
| Description | Transmission Channels Measurements and Communication System Design for Future mmWave Communications (mmWave TRACCS) |
| Amount | £491,424 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W026732/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2022 |
| End | 05/2026 |
| Description | Transparent Transmitters and Programmable Metasurfaces for Transport and Beyond-5G (TRANSMETA) |
| Amount | £637,214 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W037734/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 10/2027 |
| Title | Data for: Fused filament fabrication of functionally graded polymer composites with variable relative permittivity for microwave devices |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/7mm5dw6p4s |
| Title | Data for: Fused filament fabrication of functionally graded polymer composites with variable relative permittivity for microwave devices |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/7mm5dw6p4s/1 |
| Title | Supplementary Information Files for ' Multi-material additive manufacturing of low sintering temperature Bi2Mo2O9 ceramics with Ag floating electrodes by selective laser burnout' |
| Description | Supplementary Information Files for ' Multi-material additive manufacturing of low sintering temperature Bi2Mo2O9 ceramics with Ag floating electrodes by selective laser burnout' Abstract:Additive manufacturing (AM) of co-fired low temperature ceramics offers a unique route for fabrication of novel 3D radio frequency (RF) and microwave communication components, embedded electronics and sensors. This paper describes the first-ever direct 3D printing of low temperature co-fired ceramics/floating electrode 3D structures. Slurry-based AM and selective laser burnout (SLB) were used to fabricate bulk dielectric, Bi2Mo2O9 (BMO, sintering temperature = 620-650°C, er = 38) with silver (Ag) internal floating electrodes. A printable BMO slurry was developed and the SLB optimised to improve edge definition and burn out the binder without damaging the ceramic. The SLB increased the green strength needed for shape retention, produced crack-free parts and prevented Ag leaching into the ceramic during co-firing. The green parts were sintered after SLB in a conventional furnace at 645°C for 4 h and achieved 94.5% density, compressive strength of 4097 MPa, a relative permittivity (er) of 33.8 and a loss tangent (tan d) of 0.0004 (8 GHz) for BMO. The feasibility of using SLB followed by a post-printing sintering step to create BMO/Ag 3D structures was thus demonstrated. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Supplementary_Information_Files_for_Multi-material_a... |
| Title | Supplementary Information files for Rapid microwave-assisted bulk production of high-quality reduced graphene oxide for lithium ion batteries |
| Description | Supplementary Information files for Rapid microwave-assisted bulk production of high-quality reduced graphene oxide for lithium ion batteriesGraphene-based advanced electrodes with improved electrochemical properties have received increasing attention for use in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The conventional synthesis of graphene via liquid phase exfoliation or chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) approaches, however, either involves prolonged processing or leads to the retainment of high-concentration oxygen functional groups (OFGs). Herein, bulk synthesis of high-quality reduced graphene oxide using microwave irradiation (MWrGO) within few seconds is reported. The electromagnetic interaction of GO with microwaves is elucidated at molecular level using reactive molecular dynamic simulations. The simulation suggests that higher power microwave irradiation results in significantly less retainment of OFGs and the formation of structural voids. The synthesized MWrGO samples are thoroughly characterized in terms of structural evolution and physicochemical properties. Specifically, a modified ID/IG-in ratio metric for Raman spectrum, wherein the intensity contribution of D' peak is deducted from the apparent G peak, is proposed to investigate the structural evolution of synthesized MWrGO, which yields a more reliable evaluation of structural disorder over traditional ID/IG ratio. Li-ion half-cell studies demonstrate that the MWrGO is an excellent candidate for usage as high capacity anode (750.0 mAh g-1 with near-zero capacity loss) and high-performance cathode (high capacity retention of ~70% for LiCoO2 at 10 C) for LIBs. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Supplementary_Information_files_for_Rapid_microwave-... |
| Description | Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids. |
| Impact | The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) |
| Organisation | Plextek |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids. |
| Impact | The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids. |
| Impact | The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids. |
| Impact | The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Antenna Design Studies |
| Organisation | Qinetiq |
| Department | QinetiQ (Farnborough) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | 1. Antenna A design studies and test of prototypes; 2. Antenna B-design studies and test of prototypes; 3. Device A-superscatter design studies and test of prototypes |
| Collaborator Contribution | QinetiQ-provision of design guidelines at start of project-provision of prototypes for testing 3 months after initial design, noting requirement to optimise |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Aveiro - Sheffield |
| Organisation | University of Aveiro |
| Department | Aveiro Institute of Materials |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a well established collaboration which occurs each year through study visits. There are a number of mutual projects for which the PI provides guidance and TEM expertise |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners provide samples and experimental work |
| Impact | There have been approximately 20 papers published through this collaboration and a number of small travel grants have been awarded. |
| Description | Centre for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics (CDP |
| Organisation | Center for Dielectrics & Piezoelectrics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Centre for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics (CDP). Sheffield has now been voted in as an Affiliate Partner in the NSF funded CDP alongside North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU. The CDP has ~25 members which include Samsung, Apple, Murata and 3M. The joint grant with PSU was instrumental in cement our relationship with the centre based on a number of high profile publications with the CDP co-director Susan Mckinstry (international CoI on grant) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Susan McKinstry and Ian M. Reaney are now co-directors of the CDP. The publications helped demontrate to the Industrial Members the strength of the partnership between the CDP and Sheffield |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary. Ceramic Engineering, Life Cycle Assessment, Materials Modelling. Has led to joint projects, research, secondments and industrial funding |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Compact Rotman Lens for 5G base station antennas |
| Organisation | Huawei Technologies Sweden AB |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A Rotman lens based compact beamforming system has been proposed for some time in terms of developing cost-effective beam-steering antennas. Original designs are often frequency-dependent and they are bulky for RF frequencies, which are targeted, for example, current generations of mobile communication. Conventional techniques for Rotman lens size reduction often result in increased fabrication costs and reduced antenna performance such as beam-scanning. In this proposal, we present two techniques for the miniaturisation of Rotman lens without degrading major antenna radiation performance. The new design is based on several techniques developed at Queen Mary University of London, including artificial dielectrics, metamaterials, transformation optics and advanced manufacturing. We anticipate that all proposed solutions are cost effective and can be scalable based on low cost substrate materials such as FR-4 for industrial applications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Huawei is funding a PDRA for 6 months for a feasibility study. |
| Impact | The project is still ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Invitation to collaborate with MBDA |
| Organisation | MBDA Missile Systems |
| Department | MBDA UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | A collaborative MCM-ITP project on 3D printing of ceramic conformal antennas |
| Collaborator Contribution | Financed the project and provided Inputs on design and antenna structures |
| Impact | 3D printed high temperature ceramic structure to house metal antennas were developed |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Luneburg lens for passive radar enhancement |
| Organisation | Qinetiq |
| Department | QinetiQ (Farnborough) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The lens reflector is a sphere in shape, usually composed of concentric dielectric shells. By the proper selection of dielectric constants for each shell, radar energy incident on one of the faces of the lens is focused at a point on the rear surface of the lens. The rear conductive surface reflects radar energy back to the source. The physical characteristic of a Luneburg lens varies according to its application and the frequency at which it is required to operate. To meet a variety of weapon system requirements, QinetiQ Target Systems integrates a variety of lens types into its targets. Generally these are of 7.5 inches in diameter, but alternative sizes from 4 inches to 8.7 inches in diameter are available. QMUL has been able to use TO techniques developed from QUEST and compressed the lens into compact and flat devices, which enable seamless integration with airplane frame, such as wings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Qinetiq provides funding, technical specifications and fabrication facilities to support this partnership. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Metasurface design for HBF antennas |
| Organisation | Qinetiq |
| Department | QinetiQ (Farnborough) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This study entails the design of a holographic beam forming antenna. Holographic antennas are a type of leaky wave antenna where the feeding surface wave interacts with the radiated plane wave resulting in diffraction at the aperture. The beam shape and direction may be controlled by varying the metasurface impedance profiles, and they have the advantage that they can be thin, relatively easy to manufacture and are easier to integrate within a system due to for example an in-plane feed. Furthermore holographic beam forming overcomes the hardware expense and complexity of a phased array beamforming. The metasurfaces are formed from conductive patches on a dielectric substrate, and a number of designs have been reported in the literature, such as for example at satcom frequencies, cognitive radios and for ultra-wideband applications relating to tracking and wireless comms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Qinetiq provided antenna fabrication. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Metasurfaces |
| Organisation | University of Siena |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Novel metamaterials |
| Collaborator Contribution | Simulations |
| Impact | Phase 3. In progress |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES (ANIMATE) |
| Organisation | Qinetiq |
| Department | QinetiQ (Farnborough) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The ultimate objective of ANIMATE is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation. Specifically, in this project, we will: 1. Establish a holistic approach of software-defined materials for communication, sensing and computation, by building novel integrated and adaptive antenna technologies. 2. Integrate wireless sensor networks into the design of computer interface and control units for tunable materials to demonstrate and validate the wholly new concept of "networked materials" at subwavelength scales. 3. Exploit challenging applications of proposed antenna and material technologies with our core industrial partners at all stages of development: prototyping, manufacturing, toolbox validation, platform integration and testing. 4. Research novel active and tunable materials and investigate fundamental limits of relevant materials to industrial challenges. 5. Develop simulation tools that span from materials, device and process modeling with intricate complexities that open up the design domain significantly and enable the production of optimal structures with improved performance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our industrial partners are a vital part of our impact strategy, keeping our focus on what they need for innovative devices and systems to commercialise. We have recently established a strategic collaboration with Dr Sajad Haq (SH) and his team at QinetiQ (QQ), who have committed strong financial support and co-created the ANIMATE project. Other industrial collaborators include Thales UK, Huawei, BAE Systems, Satellite Application Catapult and UK SMEs including Flann Microwaves and Plextek, et al. We have a long history of collaborations with universities (Oxford, Sheffield, Exeter and Loughborough), some of whom (SYMETA) have provided letters of support for this application. |
| Impact | A news release from Qinetiq can be found from https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration As the project just started, there has been no publishable outputs and outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES (ANIMATE) |
| Organisation | Thales Group |
| Department | Thales UK Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The ultimate objective of ANIMATE is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation. Specifically, in this project, we will: 1. Establish a holistic approach of software-defined materials for communication, sensing and computation, by building novel integrated and adaptive antenna technologies. 2. Integrate wireless sensor networks into the design of computer interface and control units for tunable materials to demonstrate and validate the wholly new concept of "networked materials" at subwavelength scales. 3. Exploit challenging applications of proposed antenna and material technologies with our core industrial partners at all stages of development: prototyping, manufacturing, toolbox validation, platform integration and testing. 4. Research novel active and tunable materials and investigate fundamental limits of relevant materials to industrial challenges. 5. Develop simulation tools that span from materials, device and process modeling with intricate complexities that open up the design domain significantly and enable the production of optimal structures with improved performance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our industrial partners are a vital part of our impact strategy, keeping our focus on what they need for innovative devices and systems to commercialise. We have recently established a strategic collaboration with Dr Sajad Haq (SH) and his team at QinetiQ (QQ), who have committed strong financial support and co-created the ANIMATE project. Other industrial collaborators include Thales UK, Huawei, BAE Systems, Satellite Application Catapult and UK SMEs including Flann Microwaves and Plextek, et al. We have a long history of collaborations with universities (Oxford, Sheffield, Exeter and Loughborough), some of whom (SYMETA) have provided letters of support for this application. |
| Impact | A news release from Qinetiq can be found from https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration As the project just started, there has been no publishable outputs and outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | Filtronic |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | Institute of Circuit Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | MBDA Missile Systems |
| Department | MBDA UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | MTG Research Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | Printed Electronics Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | Radio Design Limited |
| Department | Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | Viper RF Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | SYMETA Industry Steering Group |
| Organisation | e2v Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have shared research ideas and progress with our industrial partners and taken their advice on the demonstrators which would be the most interesting and valuable to industry |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies listed have been Project Partners on the SYMETA project since it started in March 2016. They have provided expertise and insights into industry's requirements and trends through the medium of regular meetings. Members of the SYMETA research team have visited the companies. Some have provided samples and materials. |
| Impact | Multi-disciplinary - engineering, physics, mathematics Too early for any concrete outcomes to be recorded |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Sheffield - NIST |
| Organisation | National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | There have been frequent study visits and exchanges of samples culminating in a one month placement at NIST as a Visiting Researcher in 2014. There have been >10 papers published due to this collaboration |
| Collaborator Contribution | NIST provides equipment and expertise in structural refinements |
| Impact | There have been >10 papers published between NIST and Sheffield |
| Description | Software Defined Materials for Antenna Applications |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This project is aimed to develop a new paradigm for software defined materials with wireless sensor network at subwavelength scales, in industrial contexts, which can be programmable for current and evolving standards, security requirements and multiple functionalities. It arises from several industrial challenges relevant to the development of future wireless communication, radar and sensor systems, which require frequency agile, broadband and beam-steerable antenna solutions. It is related to topic areas including "materials for antennas" and "novel electromagnetic materials". |
| Collaborator Contribution | The ultimate objective of this PhD project is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation. |
| Impact | The project is about to start and PhD recruitment is in the process. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Spatial SpANiel Antennas (Spatial Antenna Network Intelligence) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This project supports AOTOMAT, our recent spinout company from QMUL founded by Prof. Yang Hao and Dr Henry Giddens in partnership with Queen Mary Innovation, the technology Transfer Office of QMUL. AOTOMAT uses a suite of proprietary modelling and design tools to develop new electromagnetic devices, materials and systems that are based on recent advances in electromagnetics, atomistic-scale materials, meta-heuristic optimisation and data-driven modelling. The AOTOMAT technology is robust and minimises the cost of design, development and prototyping of complex EM devices. In particular, AOTOMAT technology is focused on designing antennas and EM devices such as lenses which are suitable for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The AOTOMAT design tools utilise a number of methods such as TO and multi-objective constrained optimisation of 3-dimenaional EM devices. Importantly, these are tailored to account for the limitations of differing manufacturing methodologies. Recently, AOTOMAT's technology has been used to generate 3D printed lens designs for car windscreen antennas with mm-wave beam tilting for next generation automotive communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AOTOMAT will be subcontracted by QMUL to deliver new designs of various lens antennas that are suitable for 3D printing using their propriety design tools. Any IP that is developed by AOTOMAT in the development of the design tools used in the this work relating specifically to the TO and Electromagnetic Optimisation design process will be retained by the company. All final designs and the details of the design process will be provided in the technical documentation provided during and at the end of the project. The physical antennas and their individual designs will be owned by DSTL. |
| Impact | This project supports AOTOMAT, our recent spinout company from QMUL founded by Prof. Yang Hao and Dr Henry Giddens in partnership with Queen Mary Innovation, the technology Transfer Office of QMUL. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Wearable antennas |
| Organisation | Qinetiq |
| Department | QinetiQ (Farnborough) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The aims of the design and optimisation process remain reduction in the size, weight and power requirements associated with the antenna. In the core programme two design, manufacture and test iterations are provided for. Testing at the conclusion of the first phase will involve the antenna, feed and artificial magnetic conductor only. At the conclusion of the second phase, the antenna is to be tested on a human phantom. |
| Collaborator Contribution | QinetiQ will provide data on available dielectric materials-with initial work starting from a value of er=3. It is also desired to operate the antenna conformally on a soldier's body, therefore it must be integrated onto an artificial magnetic conductor. QinetiQ will separately design a suitable surface and provide a model of that surface to QMUL for integration into the overall antenna optimisation process (underway). QinetiQ will also undertake antenna manufacture. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Company Name | Aotomat Limited |
| Description | |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Impact | The company was just set up but we have started to receive the contract from the industrial and government partners. |
| Description | 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting. IEEE, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Additive manufacturing of metamaterials: A BAE & NPL workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | BAE Systems and NPL workshop on additive manufacturing with a focus on metamaterials and microwave structures. Darren Cadman presented the SYMETA project providing an overview of its aims. Presenting at this workshop raised further awareness of the project within BAE and NPL. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Attendance at Loughborough Antenna and Propogation Conference (LAPC) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Attended the international conference and took a stand to showcase the work of SYMETA. Attracted considerable attention from industry and academia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/meme/events/lapc-2016/ |
| Description | BBC4 documentary on our nanostructured implants work |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Our research work on 3D printing of nanostructured ceramics for healthcare applications had featured in a hour long BBC 4 documentary titled "The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age." It explores the world of material science, uncovering the innovations in manufacturing that are set to change the world we live in. See: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/materials/news/2018/materials-at-loughborough-featured-in-bbc-4-documentary.html This was also reviewed as one of the best TV educational programmes by many newspapers of the country including Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/oct/31/secret-story-stuff-tv-review |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/materials/news/2018/materials-at-loughborough-featured-in-bbc-4-... |
| Description | CPE hosts KAST's 18th Frontier Scientists Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Centre for Plastic Electronics has hosted the 18th Frontier Scientists Workshop on 19 July 2019 for the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) under the theme "sustainable energy sources for the next generation" for a day of discussions on their joint interests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/192446/cpe-hosts-kasts-18th-frontier-scientists/ |
| Description | Centre for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk on 5G ceramics at the NSF funded Centre for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics in front of 27 industrial member organisations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Conference Presentation - 3D Printing 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Conference Presentation at LAPC2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Conference presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | ESA Industry days: Additive manufacturing of microwave components |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The European Space Agency organised a 2 day workshop full of presentations on additive manufacturing of microwave components. Darren Cadman presented the Symeta project to attending industrialists, promoting the use of additive manufacturing of metamaterials for microwave applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://indico.esa.int/indico/event/154/ |
| Description | Electronic Applications of Materials 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to speak on 5G ceramics. S[arked debate with leading groups on the nature of the materials required for 5G applications |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | European School of Antennas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Around 15 post-graduate students from across Europe attended a summer school in Athens convened by the European School of Antennas. SYMETA sponsored two student places and SYMETA researchers Professor Yiannis Vardaxoglou and Dr Will Whittow used SYMETA research partly as the basis of their teaching across the week. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.esoa-web.org/ |
| Description | First Lego League Junior |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Darren Cadman organised for Etwall Primary School to attend the First Lego League Junior event at Loughborough University. A team of 6 pupils ranging in ages from 7 to 10 attended and engaged with building lego recycling 'facility'. The outcome is that with the event running again this year, the School are very keen to attend again especially having bought the associated electronics and software for controlling the Lego structures. This activity also aligns with the school's curriculum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.juniorfirstlegoleague.org/ |
| Description | Gave an invited inaugural talk titled " Materials and Manufacturing Innovations for a Sustainable Future" at the workshop on "Two-dimensional Nanomaterials for Medical and Environmental Applications (2D-NaMEA)" on 26th February 2024 organized by Center for Materials Informatics, Anna University, Chennai. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | More than 101 participants attended the workshop and Prof. Balasubramaniam Vaidhyanathan was invited to give the Inaugural address at the meeting organised by the Centre for Material Informatics from Anna University (AU), Chennai, India. There was a very engaging and thought provoking QA session and discussion followed with the staff and students of the university. There was a also discussion held about initiating a new Master's programme between Anna University, India and Loughborough University, UK on Advanced Materials Science and Engineering including with the Vice Chancellor of the AU. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.annauniv.edu/C-mAIn/events.html |
| Description | Institute of Circuit Technology Northern Seminar 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of early Symeta activity to a stakeholder group that are monitoring the progress of additive manufacturing techniques within the electronics domain. Potential interest in the project was expressed by delegates and this will be nurtured as the project progresses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.instct.org/news/seminar-reports/418-ict-northern-seminar-dec-2016 |
| Description | Institute of Circuit Technology Winter evening seminar: D Cadman presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Evening seminar organised by the UK's printed circuit board professional society, the Institute of Circuit Technology. Darren Cadman presented to approx 50 industrialists on 3D printed electronics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Institute of Microelectronics and Packaging Advanced Circuit Boards workshop: presentation D Cadman |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Darren Cadman presented updates on 3D printed electronics within the research community to an industry audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.imaps.org.uk/events/advanced-circuit-boards/ |
| Description | International Keynote Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited Keynote Presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://magnusconferences.com/materials-science/speaker/bala-vaidhyanathan |
| Description | International Symposium on Integrated Functionalities 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation in symposium on tunable devices. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Invited Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials + Exhibition 2023 (PMAI-PM 23). Delivered an Invited talk on "3D printing of Advanced Ceramics". 50 people attended the session, the talk well received with many students and researchers asking informed questions at the end. Could open up an international collaborative opportunity with the Collage of Engineering Pune (CEOP), India. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://pmai.in/PM-23/important-date.html |
| Description | Invited presentation at Exeter University's XM3 conference, promoting research in metamaterials for microwave applications |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented the SYMETA research programme at Exeter University's XM3 conference on microwave applications of metamaterials. Through this conference I established links with 2 potential companies that are interested to know more about the programme and potentially become partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://xm3.ex.ac.uk |
| Description | Invited presentation at the ARMMS (microwave society) conference, November 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk to present the Symeta research programme to the UK's microwave industry community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.armms.org/conferences/?conference=66 |
| Description | Invited presentation in a prestigeous international congress |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave an invited presentation in the 7th International Congress on Ceramics held at Brazil (2018). This is a very important conference for the advanced ceramic materials practitioners and it was excellent to represent our pioneering work on 3D printing of ceramics and green processing. This has resulted in an invitation to write a book with one of the most famous book publishers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.icc7.com.br/ |
| Description | Invited talk in a National Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented a talk on "Making Materials with Microwaves" at the Sustainable Functional Materials Conference SFM2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | KTN workshop on industrial application of Metamaterials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Materials Knowledge Transfer Network ran this event in 2017 and also in February 2018. The more recent of these, we presented our work in the breakout sessions on the form of a poster display and exhibits. Through attendance at these events we have firmly established the SYMETA programme within certain industry sectors, attracting more industrial partners to the programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://ktn-uk.co.uk/events/industrial-and-commercial-applications-of-metamaterials-2 |
| Description | Keynote Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a keynote lecture at the International Conference on Biomaterials, BioEngineering & BioTheranostics (BioMET 2018), In Vellore, India. The talk was extremely well received and our institution was invited to take part in further collaborative initiatives and a mutual exchange visits have taken place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Keynote Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Keynote Presentation made at the 4th Edition of International Conference on Materials Science And Engineering - Materials 2023. More than 60 people attended and the talk was well received and good discussion ensued. Also involved in the scientific organising committee of this conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://magnusconferences.com/materials-science/program/scientific-program/2023/2d-3d-manufacture-of... |
| Description | Keynote Speaker at ACEM, Nanjing, August 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote speech at the international conferences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Keynote Speaker at iWAT, Florida, USA, March 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A keynote speech was given on metamaterials and hyperuniform disorder metasurfaces |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://iwat2019.org/conference/sessions |
| Description | Participation in KTN special interest group workshop on 3D printing of ceramics at the MTC. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Thanos Goulas (PDRA) contributed to the discussion on ceramics 3D printing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Participation in KTN special interest group workshop on 3D printing of ceramics at the MTC. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The UK's Knowledge Transfer Networks ran a workshop on addressing the issues, needs/challenges, markets for the additive manufacture of ceramics. I performed a 5minute pitch on the capabilities at Loughborough University and actively engaged with the workshop sessions contributing information on the microwave communications sector's need for ceramics and the potential 3D printing has. While serval of Symeta collaborators were in the audience, we have also had follow requests to engage with industry funded research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://ktn-uk.co.uk/events/applications-for-ceramics-in-3d-printingadditive-manufacturing-special-i... |
| Description | Plenary Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Prestigious Plenary lecture presented at the International Conference on Biomaterials Innovation, India on December 2020 to wider audience with mix of research students, academic and industry people, healthcare professionals etc |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Plenary talk at 17th International AMPERE Conference, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A Plenary talk in 17th International Conference on Microwave and High Frequency Heating (APERE 17), at Valancia, Spain in September 2019. The talk was extremely well received and the PI received invites to present the findings in other conferences and new discussion on future collaboration ensued. One of the researcher attended has made a successful internship application to come and work in UK from Spain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://ampere2019.com/plenary-keynotes-speakers/ |
| Description | Presentation at IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI National Radio Science Meeting(APS/URSI) by Shiyu Zhang |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Zhang presented updates on the advances in 3D meta material for microwave and antenna applications |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://2018apsursi.org |
| Description | Presentation at International Workshop on Antenna Technology by D Cadman |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Darren Cadman presented advances in the 3D printing of materials for electromagnetic applications to an academic conference audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://iwat2019.org |
| Description | Presentation at Loughborough Antennas and Propagation Conference 2018 by Shiyu Zhang |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Zhang gave two presentation to the research and industry community present updating them on the latest 3D printed microwave and antenna concepts being developed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/conferences/cp746 |
| Description | Presentation at the European Space Agencys 38th ESA Antennas workshop 4th October 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented the Symeta project at the 38th ESA antennas workshop at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. The event provided an opportunity to promote additive manufacturing methods to the space sector, albeit, the methods deployed within Symeta are still very far from being adopted by the Space sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://old.esaconferencebureau.com/2017-events/17c15/introduction |
| Description | Prof. B. Vaidhyanathan gave an invited talk titled "Education - a New Perspective" to UG and PG students (and their parents) at the Pollachi Institute of Engineering and Technology, India during his recent trip in Feb 2024. This was attended by more than 300 students. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Prof. B. Vaidhyanathan gave an invited talk titled "Education - a New Perspective" to UG and PG students (and their parents) at the Pollachi Institute of Engineering and Technology, India during his recent trip in Feb 2024. This was attended by more than 300 students. After the talk there was a very lively QA session and discussion on opportunities for students studying high education abroad and that lasted for more than an hour! Many students were keen on taking up the opportunities and showed significant enthusiasm with the information shared. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research mentioned in ~ 70 Visit Day Talks and Outreach Events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Whittow was the UG Admissions Tutor and hence part of my job was to go to schools and give talks about Engineering. As this research combined the exciting area of 3D printing and antennas, I use(d) it in all my talks at schools or Open Days. I have also used it when i talk about promoting Women In Engineering of which I am strong supporter. Total amount of talk is estimated at 70. It is a powerful communication tool to be able to show an animation of the electric fields while the students can hold the 3D printed samples in their hands. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
| URL | http://www.wes.org.uk/content/men-allies-award |
| Description | Scientists develop AI technology which can tell how someone is feeling, Daily Mail, |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This is a news release on our recent work on the detection of human emotion using wireless signals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9233749/Scientists-develop-AI-technology-tell-feeling.html |
| Description | Talk/Presentation at the European Space Agency's Antennas workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to an international audience providing updates from Symeta with regard to the additive manufacture of ceramics for harsh environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://atpi.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/40th-esa-antenna-workshop/antenna |
| Description | Technical Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | During the visit to Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Prof. Bala Vaidhyanathan delivered a Technical Talk to the Staff and Students of IITM on "Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics" . It was very well received and excellent discussion and QA session followed suit. This was organised by Indian Institute of Metals Chennai Chapter & ASM International Chennai Chapter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Visit by the Consul General of India to the Advanced Ceramics and 3D Printing labs in the School of AACME |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Consul General of India Visited Loughborough University on 15th February 2022 to help forge research, teaching and enterprise links with India. He visited the School of AACME and our world leading research and innovation labs on Advanced Ceramics, 3D printing, Power Trains, EV/Unmanned Vehicles, LMCC, Caterpillar IRC etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/internal/news/2022/february/visit-by-consul-general-of-india/ |
| Description | Visit by the Indian Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council Member, Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar to Loughborough University and Advanced Ceramics Lab |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Professor Bala Vaidhyanathan, Professor of Advanced Materials & Processing at Loughborough University, showed Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar, a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council of the Prime Minster of India (PM-STIAC), the work being done in the advanced ceramics research group as part of a visit to the campus undertaken to develop mutually beneficial opportunities between the UK and India. Dr Madhuri is the Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), a retired Lt. General of the Indian Army and Deputy Chief Defence Staff, as well as a Paediatric Medical Doctor and a great role model for women empowerment. As part of her visit to Loughborough University, Dr Madhuri saw the research being carried out on Advanced Ceramics, Additive Manufacturing, in areas including ceramic filters and ballistic armours. Professor Vaidhyanathan said: "Dr Madhuri interacted with Loughborough University's leadership team, staff and our students and shared her views and ideas of forging our partnerships with India and also gave a captivating talk on "What it takes to reach the top". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/prof-bala-vaidhyanathan-3966187_loughboroughuniversity-aacme-abce-act... |