Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme

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.

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.

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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.

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

Your project team is expected to:

• Include at least one business and one university or RTO
• Able to start by 1 March 2026 at the latest
• 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.

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.