Researchers, industry and government representatives gathered at Imperial College London between 19–20 October to explore how the UK can translate advances in metamaterials research into cutting-edge technologies, ahead of a new national roadmap and a forthcoming Royce funding opportunity.
Hosted by Royce at Imperial and presented in collaboration by Royce’s Atoms to Devices Research Area and the UK Metamaterials Network, the Metamaterials Translation: From Proof-of-Concept to Scale Up workshop brought together expertise from across the UK to discuss the funding, facilities and collaborations needed to move promising research towards commercial application.
A thriving innovation ecosystem
The first day explored the UK metamaterials landscape, research and innovation delivered through Royce’s Industrial Collaboration Programme and provided perspectives from across the value chain on funding and commercialisation for metamaterials.
Representatives from Royce, the UK Metamaterials Network, Imperial College London, the Government Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST), EPSRC and Dstl provided a detailed and holistic view of the current landscape throughout the opening of the event, with Alastair Hibbins, Royce Metamaterials Fellow and Joint-Network Lead for the UK Metamaterials Network leading discussions with an opening keynote session.
Royce Chief Technology Officer Stuart Kitney introduced the Institute’s Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), alongside case studies illustrating the breadth of metamaterials applications. These included acoustic insulation, technologies for detecting circulating tumour cells, antimicrobial surgical tool coatings, electronics cooling and adaptable grippers for manufacturing.
Cutting Edge Facilities Across the UK
The second day focused on the UK’s leading facilities for prototyping, scale-up and advanced manufacturing. Following an opening contribution from Royce Research Area Lead Edmund Linfield, Metamaterials Network Joint-Lead Claire Dancer the explored the current manufacturing challenges faced in relation to commercialisation. Speakers from across the UK then highlighted capabilities within key research facilities. A workshop considered the support needed for further demonstration and scale-up, followed by a visit to Royce facilities at Imperial’s White City Campus.
The workshop immediately preceded the launch of the UK Metamaterials Commercialisation Roadmap, published on 22 October. The roadmap and workshop activity together represent a concerted effort from the UK innovation community in organising around the five priority themes for accelerating the industrial adoption of metamaterials: ecosystem, innovation, manufacturing, assurance and skills. By connecting researchers, businesses and facilities specialists, the workshop addressed practical questions central to these ambitions: how to build partnerships, access manufacturing capabilities and move technologies beyond proof of concept. A Technical Annex for the Metamaterials Commercialisation Roadmap can now be accessed through Zenodo here.
Metamaterials funding
Royce’s forthcoming Industrial Collaboration Programme Round 7 will provide a further opportunity to develop collaborative projects. Opening on 01 December 2026, this round of Industrial Collaboration Programme will explicitly invite proposals focused on metamaterials or metasurfaces. Up to £2 million will be awarded across the round, with total project costs between £50,000 and £130,000, supporting UK businesses to work with the materials research community.
Delivered with important contributions from the UK Metamaterials Network, the Bragg Centre for Materials Research at the University of Leeds, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and the University of Manchester; the workshop helped connect national commercialisation ambitions with the expertise, infrastructure and partnerships needed to pursue them.
Researchers and businesses interested in developing proposals can explore the Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme 7 funding pre-announcement and attend the briefing webinar on 2 December, details of which can be find here.
To continue the conversation around the Metamaterials Commercialisation Roadmap, researchers and businesses are invited to join Innovate UK Business Connect’s forthcoming webinar series exploring the roadmap’s priorities and the collective action needed to deliver them. The first session, taking place online on 10 November 2026 at 12pm, will bring together perspectives from industry, research and government, with a second webinar examining the recommendations in greater depth.
Delegates at the Metamaterials workshop | © Royce at Imperial College London
Networking at the Royce Metamaterials workshop | © Royce at Imperial College London
