Small items of research equipment at the University of Leeds

The goal of this programme is to expand and upgrade the small equipment base at the University of Leeds to help support engineering and physical science early career researchers (ECRs). Such investment can add new capacity and capability to research teams, particularly helping ECRs establish their own independent research activities. Our vision will be achieved in two ways: first, through provision of small items of dedicated equipment to individual ECRs and their research groups that will complement existing University infrastructure, and; second, by improving and refreshing equipment in shared university facilities that are accessed heavily by ECRs, by supporting purchase of stand-alone components and enhancements that will expand operation of existing apparatus. This programme has been focussed on a selection of research areas of national importance where Leeds has a critical mass of academic staff, funding and infrastructure, which align with the EPSRC shaping capability exercise, and is demonstrably internationally leading for the quality and distinctiveness of its research. This will ensure that the investment made here underpins scientific and engineering excellence, and aligns with long-term research programmes that are both strategic to the university, and receive on-going university investment. This programme will be led by three senior academic staff each with long-standing track records and academic leadership in the organization and delivery of large research programmes to strict timescales, together with the university's Research Facilities and Infrastructure Manager. Oversight by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation will ensure overall alignment with the University's vision for sustainability of its equipment base.

This programme will expand and upgrade the small equipment base for engineering and physical science early career researchers (ECRs) at Leeds. This programme will generate a range of academic, research and innovation impacts, including:

1. the development of our ECRs by providing them with the necessary resources to achieve their full potential. This will not only deliver the highest quality long-term research and innovation for the UK, but will also nurture the visionary and inspirational leaders who will set future research and innovation agendas;

2. aiding translation of research outputs from ECRs to industrial end-users by providing necessary enabling equipment.

The University is committed to supporting the development of its academic staff, and a key requirement is to ensure that all staff have access to the best possible resources. This is particularly pertinent for ECRs as they tend not to have had the opportunity to build up their own independent research laboratories, and often depend on the facilities of established staff or shared university resources. Often a relatively small investment is required to refresh, upgrade or enhance capability and capacity, allowing the ECR to carry out proof-of-concept work to underpin a grant application or to liaise effectively with an industrial sponsor or end-user. This strategy helps develop the ECR into an independent researcher, benefitting both their ambitions and career development, and the goals of the university.

There are two main pathways to exploit commercial opportunities: (i) collaboration with companies to translate relevant expertise/technology into economic performance; and (ii) patent licensing/sale(s). The University has well established track records of protecting and licensing IP from its research, and translating research to industrial end-users. Established industrial end-users and strategic partners for the research themes of focus in this proposal are discussed in the Case for Support and in the Pathways to Impact. Alongside direct engagement with established company collaborations, the long-term sustainability of the work engendered by this small equipment investment will be further maximized by developing new collaborations with industry. This will be achieved in part using the resources of the University's innovation hubs set up in 2011. The innovation hubs deliver Knowledge Transfer activities in 14 focused industrial sector areas. They provide businesses and other external partners with targeted access to university expertise including collaborative research, contract research, IP licensing agreements, and secondments of University staff into companies, inter alia, as well as providing a service to translate university research strategically to appropriate end-users.

The scientific, engineering and technological advances made will be disseminated to wider potential industrial end-users (and academics) through publication in primary archival international journals. Outcomes will also be disseminated at leading international conferences and workshops, attended by senior academics and representatives from SMEs and large enterprises. Where appropriate, research achievements will be publicized through our specialist PR agency ('Campus PR') who are contracted to increase the profile of science and engineering undertaken in the University, and will write press releases and articles to ensure timely press exposure of significant scientific advances and engagement with the public.

The University is proactive in promoting its research equipment. As discussed in Part I, all equipment of >£25k value has been classified and can be viewed externally (http://esms.leeds.ac.uk). This allows the University to promote its equipment to both academia and industry, and encourage external use of its state-of-the-art facilities. This work places the University in an ideal position to attract external users and maximize impact of our capital equipment.