Research Areas
Our Research Framework is founded upon our ten focused Research Areas . Together, these provide the expertise, capability and facilities to support innovative research around the UK in making, validating and interrogating materials and accelerating their transition through the early stages of discovery.
This research is linked to both national and global initiatives, namely Transition to Zero Carbon, Sustainable Manufacture, Digital Transformation, Circular Economy as well Healthy Population – collectively described as Royce’s “Drivers”.
Royce Drivers:
Led by our Research Area Leads, who provide strategic leadership and community building, the ten Research Areas which sit within the framework represent the strategic, collective research strengths and focus within Royce. These core areas, again reached through consensus, are aligned into critical UK sectors, as well as being central to economic growth and sustainability.
National Materials Challenges
Within our Research Framework, National Materials Challenges set the strategic context for action, and stimulate materials research that meets national and global needs. These Challenges are framed through Royce, in collaboration with the UK materials community. In partnership with this community, Royce builds Research Roadmaps aligned to these challenges, clarifying the technology gaps which need to be addressed, to support a national research business case.
Technology Platforms
The underpinning Technology Platforms are groupings of Royce cutting-edge facilities and expertise. Each one also has a Technology Platform Lead responsible for developing and enhancing the facilities and supporting related research activities which utilise Royce equipment.
Collaboration Projects
Collaboration Projects bridge innovation pathways between industry, universities and RTOs. These projects are aimed at facilitating the transfer of technologies across the entire economic value chain – spanning fundamental materials discovery to the production of final manufactured products. The Collaboration Projects we foster embrace entities from the public sector through to start-ups and corporates, and often support research aligned with National Materials Challenges.
Our projects catalyse crucial materials-related research and technology developments, which are poised to deliver significant impact in UK science and society at large. We are committed to supporting the entire materials research community, collaborating with organisations such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), alongside local and national governments to ensure investment into long-term, strategic programmes. We will also continue to develop projects that drive industrial collaboration and investment, address national imperatives, and elevate the stature of materials research and innovation both here in the UK and globally.
