Royce hosted its inaugural AI for Materials Science Showcase in Manchester on 19 March 2026, as leading voices from across academia, industry, and government came together to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of materials research.
The event highlighted the growing impact of AI on scientific workflows, transforming how researchers conduct experiments, manage data, and accelerate discovery. Importantly, it underscored the emergence of a vibrant, cross-sector community working collectively to drive innovation across the entire materials value chain.
Setting the Vision for Materials 4.0
The showcase opened with Emma Peacock, Principal Consultant at Urban Foresight, who introduced the National Framework for Materials 4.0, which is currently being delivered through Royce. Her session set the tone for the day, outlining a strategic vision and landscape of AI technologies used across materials research.
Professor Jacqueline Cole (Royce and the University of Cambridge) followed with an insightful overview of major machine learning tools for materials researchers. Her talk covered a wide spectrum of digital research infrastructure, from data curation pipelines and extraction tools to the integration of domain-specific language models, demonstrating how AI is becoming embedded in everyday research practices. Professor Cole also introduced new AI tools developed by her research group that will be made available through the Royce Digital Materials Foundry which she leads.
Real-world applications driving impact
A series of case studies generated from recent UKRI grant funding in support of the governments AI for Science Strategy were introduced by Professor Anthony Green (University of Manchester), Professor Sam Cooper (Imperial College London and Polaron), Dr Matthew Evans (Datalab Industries Ltd. and the University of Cambridge) and Dr Michael Greaves (Cellerate). These exemplars showcased how Royce-supported projects are applying AI to real-world challenges using a cohesive and strategic approach to deliver tangible outcomes across sectors.
In the afternoon, Professor Martin Freer, CEO of the Faraday Institution, explored the “Faraday Engine” and the critical role of AI and advanced computing in accelerating battery innovation—from early-stage discovery through to commercial deployment.
Professor Sarah Haigh (University of Manchester) then presented cutting-edge developments in AI-enabled atomic-scale transmission electron microscopy, highlighting how these tools are already enhancing laboratory workflows and enabling new levels of precision in materials analysis.
AI in industry: From steel to smart materials
The programme also reflected the growing role of AI in industrial applications. Following the recent launch of the UK’s Steel Strategy, Cinzia Giannetti (University of Swansea) discussed how AI is being used to improve quality and optimise processes in steel hot rolling.
Further talks highlighted emerging research directions, including Dr Jack Broad’s work at Mater-AI on AI-accelerated discovery of thermoelectric materials and Dr Sina Safari’s approach to smarter structural integrity assessment through advanced material modelling at the University of Bristol.
Diverse perspectives from across the ecosystem
The event also featured a range of guest speakers from leading organisations and institutions. Dr Dan Scotson from the University of Manchester introduced digitalisation in the microstructural evolution of ceramic coatings for jet engines. Dr Andy Holwell from ZEISS Microscopy discussed the organisation’s approach to machine learning and deep learning based image segmentation. Dr Samuel Magorrian outlined his work at the STFC Hartree Centre on enabling AI-accelerated composition optimisation of high-entropy ultra-high temperature ceramics. Hannah Melia from Citrine Informatics considered how machine learning from research is delivering value to industry.
Building a community for the future
Perhaps the most significant outcome of the event was the clear sense of community forming around AI in materials science. By bringing together diverse expertise, ideas, and ambitions, the showcase demonstrated the potential for collective action to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities.
You can find out more about Royce’s work on a UK transition to Materials 4.0 through our Roadmapping and Landscaping activity in the area, highlighted on this page.
