About the Event
This two-day workshop, presented by the Henry Royce Institute’s Atoms to Devices Research Area in collaboration with the UK Metamaterials Network, will bring together researchers and R&D professionals from across industry and academia to explore the facilities, funding and collaborations needed to translate, as well as scale metamaterials and metasurface technologies.
Taking place at Imperial College London, the programme will combine keynote talks, case studies, cutting-edge facility presentations, roundtable discussions and networking. Participants will learn about upcoming funding opportunities through Royce’s Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), and hear from project leads supported through previous rounds of ICP funding.
The workshop will comprise two days, one or both can be attended:
Day 1: will focus on the Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), including hearing from successful applicants from previous rounds of ICP funding.
Day 2: will focus on UK facilities for prototyping and scaling metamaterials, with the goal of mapping a pathway from discovery to translation, moving from proof of principle to fully commercialised products.
By attending, you will:
- Build links with researchers and R&D professionals working across a range of metamaterials and metasurface applications;
- Learn how Royce funding initiatives, including ICP, could support the translation and scale-up of metamaterials research;
- Explore the technical capabilities, facilities and partnership opportunities available through Royce, the Metamaterials Network, and the wider UK community;
- Help to establish a metamaterials facilities database (in collaboration with MetaHub).
Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with the wider UK metamaterials community, connect with Royce Research Area Leads and its Research & Business Engagement team, and take part in an optional tour of Imperial College London’s Royce Facilities, which are based at Imperial’s White City Campus.
Event Details
Date: Monday 19 October (11:00-17:00) – Tuesday 20 October 2026 (09:30 -13:00; optional tour 13:00 – 14:20)
Venue: Imperial College London, Kensington Campus.
Who should attend:
This workshop is intended for researchers, engineers, technical specialists and R&D professionals working in academia or industry across the breadth of metamaterials and metasurfaces. It will be particularly relevant to those interested in translating early-stage research, accessing specialist facilities, developing collaborative projects or scaling technologies towards industrial application.
Event programme:
Keynote speakers will be announced in due course. An outline programme is available below.
| Day 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London, South Kensington | ||
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 10:30–11:00 | Arrival and coffee | — |
| 11:00–11:30 | Introduction to Royce | Speaker TBC |
| 11:30–12:00 | Introduction to the UK metamaterials landscape | Alastair Hibbins, Joint Network Lead, UK Metamaterials Network |
| 12:00–12:30 | Metamaterials research at Imperial College London | Riccardo Sapienza, Vice-Dean for Research, Imperial College London |
| 12:30–13:00 | Introduction by funders | Speakers TBC |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch and posters | — |
| 14:00–14:30 | Introduction to Royce’s Industrial Collaboration Programme funding | Stuart Kitney, CTO, Henry Royce Institute |
| 14:30–17:00 | Industrial Collaboration Programme case studies | Speakers TBC |
| 17:00 | Drinks reception and posters | — |
| 19:00 | Dinner | — |
| Day 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London, South Kensington | ||
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 09:30 | Arrival and coffee | — |
| 09:45–11:00 | UK facilities short talks | Speakers TBC |
| 11:00–12:00 | Roundtable: what is missing in the UK and what is needed to scale up the production of metamaterials? | — |
| 12:00–13:00 | Lunch and facilities posters | — |
| 13:00 | Transfer to White City Campus | — |
| 13:30–14:30 | Tour of Royce facilities at Imperial College London | — |
Cost and registration
This conference is free to attend.
Prospective attendees are asked to complete an expression of interest form by 09 October. Places will then be confirmed, with selected attendees asked to accept their place by 12 October.
October 20 2026
