The University of Huddersfield will use this award to fund the acquisition of two key pieces of technical laboratory equipment, whose use and application cover a broad range of research areas spanning novel functional materials to advanced metrology. The equipment will be used to support a broad range of researchers and disciplines, as well as help ensure high utilisation rates.

The applicants seek to purchase an advanced Coherence Scanning Interferometer (CSI) surface metrology system to assess the arrangement and distribution of surface features (topography) of materials down to the nano-scale, and so is an essential tool for the understanding of nano-functional surfaces which are the underpinning materials of numerous new technologies ranging from medical diagnostics to solar power. The CSI instrumentation acquisition will be critical to formulate a unique metrology-orientated ultra-precision structured and freeform surface manufacturing capability. The core equipment will facilitate scientific and innovative research in the area of freeform and micro/nano-structured surface measurement of novel coatings and thin films. The outcomes from this acquisition will include the provision of enabling techniques for functionalised bio implants next generation novel optics, new functional surfaces, and facilitation of the development of ISO standards for next generation of functional geometrical products.

The second instrument is a Vector Network Analyser (VNA) to support researchers working in the areas of; materials characterisation, measurement and sensing, metamaterials and integrative technologies to deliver research against key identified EPSRC Priority Research areas such as materials characterisation, functional materials, measurement and sensing, photonic materials, metamaterials and plasmonics, integrative technologies (from mobile technologies to radar technologies) and ICT for manufacturing. Understanding the electromagnetic properties of materials are essential for developing the next generation of materials for devices such as antennas, passive and active components (both linear and non-linear) and high-speed serial interconnects.

Both instruments will be used as a platform to develop interdisciplinary collaborative research across faculties at the University of Huddersfield and with external collaborators and to support established researchers as well as early career researchers and research students.

Potential Impact:
The Centre for Precision Technology/EPSRC Future Metrology Hub and the EPSRC National Ion Beam Centre have an extensive network of academic and industrial collaborators which provide an ideal launch-pad for dissemination of outputs from these unique UK facilities. To ensure economic and social impact from the CSI and VNA equipment, the facilities will be promoted amongst multiple stakeholder groups as effectively as possible e.g. to industry through the NCUB Konfer System.

The following routes to impact are envisaged:

Economic impacts are expected for a wide range of UK manufacturers/end-users, as well as for technology development companies feeding into manufacturing supply chains. The University will promote the facilities to end-user companies through the ESIF Leeds City Region Supply Chain programme, which it leads, and via the technology adoption programme being delivered through the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, a wholly owned subsidiary company of the University. New foreground intellectual property generated through usage of the facilities will be protected and commercially exploited. Research publications and patent filings will be used to monitor this form of economic impact.

Social impacts and the quality of life of UK citizens depends upon many factors including efficient transportation, a clean environment, intelligent devices and access to the latest healthcare technologies. The CSI and VNA equipment will allow discovery of new materials and rapid development and ambitious design of future products in these areas. Products and devices will have enhanced performance, such as highly integrated micro sensors, small volume imaging systems and customised medical treatment and flexible printed devices.

People and knowledge generation - the CSI and VNA facilities will enable frontier/innovative research projects through which EPSRC PhD and early-career postdoctoral researchers will be trained to become vital assets to both UK academia and industry.

Public Engagement - the CPT and Ion Beam Centre are already University highlights on guided tours given to industry, government, prospective students, their parents and other visitors to the campus. We take full advantage of these excellent opportunities to engage with individuals who would otherwise not encounter our research work. We will integrate the CSI and VNA instrumentation into the tours highlighting our world leading facilities and their end-user impact. The research teams will continue to engage with members of the public through outreach programs such as European Researchers' Night, World Metrology Day and the new ECP2 (Erasmus training program). These events and training programs are open to the public, researchers and industry.

The academic, economic and social impacts of instrument usage will be monitored via a series of KPIs designed to capture benefits. A number of metrics (KPIs) will be used to monitor and assess the performance/success of the proposed equipment through well-established routes which have been developed during the lifetime of the EPSRC hub and prior to that the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacture. These processes will be utilised by the EPSRC National Ion Beam Centre for impact monitoring of the VNA. In addition, we would seek opportunities to generate case studies based upon impact being generated by users of the CSI and VNA facilities.