Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme

The Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme enables universities and research and technology organisations (RTOs) to collaborate with industry partners on sprint projects to accelerate the translation of research.

FULL PROPOSAL STAGE OPEN NOW

About the Metamaterials ICP

The Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme offers grant funding for research, development and innovation sprint projects for metamaterials. 

Universities, research and technology organisations and companies can apply for funding of total project costs between £50,000 and £130,000 for exploring innovative ideas with a focus on technology translation. A maximum of three organisations may collaborate on each project; at least one of these must be from industry. These awards are not offered to support fundamental research projects and will be subject to the following subsidy levels:

This metamaterials funding call will use a two-stage process for selection. There is a requirement for applicants to submit a brief expression of interest by 26 August 2025. Eligible proposals will then be invited to continue to a full application on 15 September 2025. Full proposals must be submitted by 10 Nov 2025.

Projects are expected to start from March 2026 and Royce-funded project expenditure must be completed within 5 months of the start date.

The Royce Research and Business Engagement team is available to discuss potential project ideas, particularly from businesses unfamiliar with expertise and capabilities across Royce. Please contact them via grants@royce.ac.uk.

Please note: This call is a special extension of Royce’s core Industrial Collaboration Programme for Metamaterials research. For information about the core programme, click here.

Background

Metamaterials present distinct opportunities to advance each of the five Critical Technologies set out in the UK’s Science and Technology Framework. Potential application areas for metamaterials are vast, and becoming increasingly pervasive as the diversity of metamaterials technologies in development increases. 

The scope of use for these technologies includes managing high temperatures in space applications, compact augmented reality optics, biosensors, anti-microbial materials, or more efficient solar panels and wireless charging. Research in the field will benefit numerous industrial sectors, encompassing ICT, defence & security, aerospace, and healthcare amongst others.

Royce’s Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme has been created to accelerate the scale-up of metamaterials research by enabling universities and research and technology organisations (RTOs) to collaborate with industry partners. Ensuring that the cutting-edge technologies and scientific advancements in the field are delivering benefit to society as a whole.

Scope

The Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme competition is focussed solely on accelerating the translation of innovation in metamaterials.  

For the purposes of this competition, applications must meet the definition of a metamaterial developed by the metamaterials community, which is accessible on this page or by following this link.

Proposals must demonstrate how the designed metamaterial or metasurface structure offers advantages over what can be achieved with conventional materials – for example through performance, cost or functionality.

Applications should aim to propel research developments to the next level, identifying or exploiting potential market opportunities through outcomes focused research and innovation. This call is designed to showcase market interest in metamaterials, as such proposals should clearly articulate their industrial relevance and how the project will build towards an application or adoption of novel metamaterials technology.

Where relevant, applicants are also asked to consider how their project links with the six overarching priority areas from the National Materials Innovation Strategy:

  • Energy Solutions – Rising to the net zero challenge
  • Future Healthcare – Delivering beyond biocompatibility for active medical solutions
  • Structural Innovations – Strengthening our infrastructure, built environment and transport systems
  • Advanced Surface Technologies – Enhancing product functionality, performance and lifetime
  • Next-Generation Electronics, Telecommunications & Sensors – Driving the future of high-performance connectivity and computing
  • Consumer Products, Packaging and Specialist Polymers – Paving the way for a greener tomorrow

And the UK Governments six Plan for Change missions

  • Strong Foundations
  • Kickstarting Economic Growth
  • An NHS Fit for the Future
  • Safer Streets
  • Break Down Barriers to Opportunity
  • Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower

Eligibility

Your project must:

  • Include at least one business and one university or RTO
  • Start on 01 March 2026
  • Complete all Royce-funded activity within 5 months of the start date
  • Carry out its project work in the UK
  • Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
  • Incur all Royce funded costs within the project’s duration
  • Be a new project or activity that has not already started

To collaborate or lead, you must be one of the following types of organisation based in the UK:

  • Higher Educational Institutes and Universities (HEIs)
  • Research and Technology Organisation (RTO)
  • Charity or not for profit organisation
  • Business of any size

Only UK-registered companies may participate. International companies are NOT eligible for participation.

How many projects can I submit?

Individuals can submit one EOI and collaborate on one additional EOI proposal (e.g. be named on this). Individuals can be involved in a maximum of two projects (e.g. lead one and be co-applicant on another, or be co-applicant on two). We do not make the distinction about leads/ co-applicants in the EOI stage, to keep things as simple as possible, but at the full proposal stage, applications will need to list a lead applicant and co-applicants.

There is no limit on the number of applications per organisation, however companies should consider that Royce is unlikely to fund multiple projects from the same company.

Definition of Metamaterials

For the purposes of this call, applications must meet the definition of a metamaterial as developed by the metamaterials community:

A metamaterial is a 3D structure with a response or function due to the collective effect of meta-atom elements that is not possible to achieve conventionally with any individual constituent material.

A metasurface is a 2D version of a metamaterial where the structural elements are confined to a 2D plane.

Note: The response/function of a metamaterial results from the ensemble effects of designed and engineered meta-atom elements. These can take many forms – the response or function may be electromagnetic (photonic, RF & microwave, THz etc), acoustic (audio, ultrasonic, vibrational), magnetic, mechanical/structural, thermal, or chemical.

Timeline

21 July 2025 – EOI call opens

26 Aug 2025 – EOI closes

15 Sep 2025 – Full proposal competition opens for invited applicants

10 Nov 2025 – Full proposal competition closes

1 Feb 2026 – Applicants notified

1 March 2026 – Awards start

How to Apply

This funding call uses a two-stage process for selection. There was a requirement for applicants to submit a brief expression of interest by 26 August 2025. Eligible proposals have now been invited to continue to a full application.

SUBMITTING YOUR FULL PROPOSAL

The expression of interest (EOI) stage of this competition has now closed.

The full application stage for this funding call is now open. If you were successfully shortlisted during the Expression of Interest stage, you will receive an email with a link to complete your full submission.

In the application, applicants will be asked to detail: 

  • The problem and how the proposal addressed this
  • A workplan and budget
  • Why and how project partners are capable of delivering the project
  • The impact of the project

Proposals will be evaluated by a panel of independent reviewers who will score each above element from a maximum of 25 points.  Royce will provide all applicants with feedback.

For further support, please refer to the Resources section on this page.

DEADLINE

Royce must receive your full proposal by 10 November at 17:00. You will not be able to submit information after this time.

Please contact the Royce Grants team with any queries through this address: grants@royce.ac.uk 

 

Terms and Conditions

This competition provides funding in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations. You must always make sure that the funding awarded to you is compliant with all current Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.

Royce is unable to fund high risk organisations and applications will be subject to financial and due diligence checks.

Industry partners are required to submit an independent accountant’s report for claims over £50,000. Any claims under £50,000 require a signed Director’s statement of expenditure.

Further information about the grant award process is available in the claims guidance document and case studies of previous projects can be found on our impact pages.

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