UCL is buying a suite of new experimental equipment—from microscopes to fabrication tools—to replace ageing instruments and keep its labs internationally competitive. The problem is straightforward: research equipment wears out, becomes obsolete, or cannot handle the volume of users. Without regular investment, even the best researchers lose their edge. This grant fills that gap by refreshing eight bundles of equipment that underpin work in health technologies, advanced functional materials, sustainable buildings, and novel information and communication technologies. The equipment was chosen in consultation with researchers and senior management to match current needs. If the investment succeeds, it will sustain high-quality fundamental and applied research across multiple fields. In health, better imaging and fabrication tools could improve medical diagnostics and device prototyping. In materials science, new instruments could accelerate the development of stronger, lighter, or more energy-efficient materials. In the built environment, upgraded sensors and testing rigs could help design buildings that use less energy. In ICT, new fabrication and characterisation equipment could support faster or more secure computing. The project also explicitly supports early-career researchers, giving them access to tools they would otherwise lack.
View original technical description
This is a UCL-wide bid to invest in a range of equipment items to refresh and upgrade our experimental facilities which will help to maintain a cutting-edge in internationally leading research. Each of the bundles included in this proposal contributes to one or more strategic themes, in which UCL, as well as national and international funders, has invested significantly in recent years: Health technologies, Advanced functional materials, Sustainable built environment and Novel information and communication technologies. UCL has considerable strengths in these areas, and we have experienced significant growth in terms of staff and student numbers, and breadth and impact of research activity. This additional investment will therefore provide an ideal platform to ensure the sustained growth of the highest quality research, as well as supporting the early career researchers. Each bundle identifies a set of items that underpin a range of research activities, often reaching across department and discipline boundaries, which are of strategic importance for UCL and EPSRC. The specific items identified within the bundles have been selected in close collaboration with senior management and individuals and groups working in the area, to ensure that they are aligned with their current needs and have the greatest potential to support maximum impact of their research activities. Each bundle has been allocated a Lead Investigator who will be responsible for regular reporting to the Vice-Provost for Research on progress against objectives. The four EPSRC challenge themes addressed by this proposal are: Health technologies [bundles 1, 2, 3, 6]; Advanced functional materials [bundles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6]; Sustainable built environments [bundle 7]; and Novel information and communication technologies [bundles 5, 8].
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know