EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Sensing and Measurement

We propose a Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrative Sensing and Measurement that addresses the unmet UK need for specialist training in innovative sensing and measurement systems identified by EPSRC priorities the TSB and EPOSS . The proposed CDT will benefit from the strategic, targeted investment of >£20M by the partners in enhancing sensing and measurement research capability and by alignment with the complementary, industry-focused Innovation Centre in Sensor and Imaging Systems (CENSIS). This investment provides both the breadth and depth required to provide high quality cohort-based training in sensing across the sciences, medicine and engineering and into the myriad of sensing applications, whilst ensuring PhD supervision by well-resourced internationally leading academics with a passion for sensor science and technology. The synergistic partnership of GU and UoE with their active sensors-related research collaborations with over 160 companies provides a unique research excellence and capability to provide a dynamic and innovative research programme in sensing and measurement to fuel the development pipeline from initial concept to industrial exploitation.

Introduction
Sensors are ubiquitous in everyday life. Sensors are essential to transport, pollution monitoring, defence and security, health diagnostics and quality of life. Reducing energy consumption requires measurement of resources and emissions in transport, buildings, factories and homes. Many chemical and gas sensors are essential for health and safety.
BCC estimates that the worldwide sensors market will grow at 7.8% CAGR to reach $91.5 Bn by 2016. A Frost and Sullivan report from 2009 compliments these figures suggesting a market of $69 Bn in 2013 growing at 10% CAGR whilst the systems market that uses sensors is much greater at $490 Bn. The TSB estimates UK annual sensors sales at £12 Bn/year with instruments sales underpinning £165 Bn of manufacturing goods in the UK. Hence, the proposed CDT has the potential to generate impact for a wide range of industries through the supply of highly trained doctoral graduates possessing technical skills married with a business perspective and technology-entrepreneurial awareness, thus satisfying the unmet needs of UK industry as identified by EPSRC, TSB and European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration.

Industry
The CDT training, identified by our industrial partners, will have a positive impact on their R&D, innovation, manufacturing and commercial needs. Glasgow is also the lead partner in the new £10M Innovation Centre: Sensor and Imaging Systems (CENSIS) that providing access to over 130 UK companies. Also through NPL and the KTN in Sensors and Instrumentation, we will expand this network even further throughout the UK.
The resulting graduates will have knowledge of the technology development, system integration, application requirement and deployment of advanced sensors. These technical skills will be complemented by business skills to enable them to seize opportunities and clearly articulate the benefits of technical innovation across the organisation. Their ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from product development teams to customers and end-users, will make them an asset to both large companies - in which they will be capable of surmounting the barriers between corporate silos - and small SMEs - where the breadth of their training will enable them to address a range of roles that require both technical and commercial understanding.

Society
CDT will advance the state-of-the-art across multiple fronts. Our team has an excellent track record of translating sensor-based technologies into successful businesses and generate economic benefit (ST Micro, Wolfson, Sofant, Centeo Biosciences, Mode Dx, and Clyde Biosciences). Innovation associated with the CDT is therefore well placed to deliver major societal impact in diverse fields ranging from biomedical sensors in healthcare, to transport efficiency. Similar levels of impact will be delivered across diverse fields such as transportation and personal healthcare in the next ten years.
Graduates such as those from our CDT will power innovation and sustain a knowledge-intense economy, ensuring that UK-based companies play a leading role in delivering these improvements.

Student cohort
Students will benefit from the enhanced career prospects that will accrue from the combination of stratified and focused training in integrative sensing and measurement combined with business training. The impact on the students will be significantly increased employability, as well as the development of the entrepreneurial potential to generate their own employment opportunities and companies. The CDT will train a new generation of leading engineers and scientists whose ambition is focused on exploitation of innovation and product development for economic benefit.