Please contact us to discuss how we can help provide solutions to your research or training needs.
Engineering and Physical Sciences
Our diverse community of over 400 researchers alongside businesses and partnerships staff work together across disciplines to create tangible impact.
The fast-paced world of modern industry presents increasingly complex challenges, demanding increasingly sophisticated science and technology-driven solutions. Our approach draws upon technical expertise and world class facilities in Engineering and Physical Sciences to bring together creative, multidisciplinary collaborations that cut across traditional boundaries keeping our partners and us at the forefront of technological innovation.
New Projects
Greater Innovation for Smarter Materials Optimisation (GISMO)
Over 250 innovative Small to Medium-sized Enterprises in the Cheshire and Warrington areas will benefit from £4.4 million GISMO programme, which has been created specifically for chemical using industries, such as the chemicals, aerospace, automotive, energy, applied healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Participating businesses will gain access to research and development expertise and specialist technology to solve industry-driven challenges through innovations in ‘smart’ materials.
GISMO is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
To find out more contact Martin Gilmore, Head of Partnerships and Business Engagement for Physical Sciences
Tel. +44 1524 510229Email m.gilmore@lancaster.ac.uk
NextGenChem
Co-designed between Lancaster University and Yordas Group, the NextGenChem (NGC) programme will enable 300 Lancashire chemical-using Small to Medium-sized Enterprises to innovate using ‘next generation’ chemistry. Through a blend of targeted workshop activities focused around innovative synthesis, formulation and chemical process development, and bespoke technical and analytical research and development support, the programme will lead to the creation of new and improved products and processes.
The funding from this programme will also expand the capacity of Lancaster University to engage with businesses on research and development through its cTAP facility by supporting the acquisition of new analytical equipment such as a catalyst assessment rig, a robotics automation platform, a kilo lab, and equipment suits.
NextGenChem is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
To find out more contact Helen Atherton, NextGenChem Programme Manager:
AI Foundry
Expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) is to be shared with Greater Manchester businesses in a bid to help them develop new products and services, as part of a new £6m project.
University researchers with specialist knowledge in AI will work with a minimum of 170 Small to Medium-sized Enterprises in the area, helping them to advance their business through the application of AI. The project hopes to help local businesses build back better following the disruption caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In total, four North West universities: Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford and Lancaster University, have teamed up to deliver the European Regional Development Funded (ERDF) scheme named the Greater Manchester AI Foundry.
The new project builds on the success of the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry which was launched by the four institutions in May 2019. The Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry has already successfully supported more than 60 SMEs in adopting cyber security innovation within their business. Knowledge and research from the four universities will now be used to help selected companies embed new AI innovation into their business, helping them to thrive in a new digital age
If you are part of an SME in Greater Manchester and would like to find out how the AI Foundry could benefit you, please get in touch with Chris Lambert, Programme Manager, in the Department of Engineering at Lancaster University
Our Science
From applied fundamental research to cutting-edge technological innovations, we work with all types of external organisations to further knowledge and exploit that knowledge to create impact. The breadth of expertise and ability to bring together researchers and partnerships staff from a diverse pool of talent allows for novel approaches and creative solutions.
Facilities
Our extensive, fully-equipped R&D workshops and laboratories worth over £25M enable businesses to work alongside our researchers and dedicated technicians in a unique collaborative environment, developing and testing new products and processes for global markets.
Dedicated Experimental Officers and Technology Access Consultants maintain and operate the equipment and provide a hugely valuable resource for our R&D intensive industry collaborators. We also offer co-location space, meaning businesses can work side-by-side with our specialists on joint projects.
Specialist facilities for business include:
Ways of Working
There are a wide range of mechanisms for external partners to engage with researchers across Engineering and Physical Sciences. These include student placements, contract research, facilities access, professional development and multi-partner collaborative research projects. Lancaster has an established track record in working in collaboration with a variety of external organisations and we are keen to develop new and existing partnerships.
Examples include Small to Medium-sized Enterprises, voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, public sector institutes and large multinationals. Our Business Development Managers have a good understanding of funding and can advise on the best ways of working with us given your specific circumstances and requirements.
Institutes and Centres
A major strength of Lancaster University is its thriving ecosystem of interdisciplinary research. This collaborative approach is fostered by our mixture of formal and informal structures – bringing together experts from different disciplines to address challenges on all scales.
Engineering and Physical Sciences is home to a number of outward facing centres and institutes that help make Lancaster University a leading regional, national and international centre of excellence for innovation.
Research Themes
Each academic department has a number of research groups – read more about those here.
Case Studies
"By entering into this project with the University we secured a concentrated effort and powerful resource able to focus on areas that we are prevented from considering by the day to day pressures involved with a normal business."
Martin Briddon, Engineering Manager, James Fisher Mimic
James Fisher MIMIC
Benefits of Collaboration
- Access specialist knowledge and emerging technologies
- Access to events, conferences, technology demonstrations and specialist technical workshops
- Gain extra resources through student engagement activities
- Tap into our global network
- Work with us to develop new products and processes
Our Services
Contact Us
Got a business challenge? Want more information? Our experience engagement team will listen to your needs and help source the right skills, people and resources needed to solve your business challenge.
Martin Gilmore
Head of Partnerships and Business Engagement for Physical Sciences
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B035, B - Floor, Science and Technology
Elizabeth Mullis
Connected Capability Fund (CCF) Partnership Development Manager, Partnerships and Business Engagement Manager
Chris Lambert
Programme Manager, PhD studentLancaster Product Development Unit
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+44 (0)7814 076610, +44 (0)1524 594383
D29, D - Floor, Engineering Building
