A consortium of 49 companies, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Shell, is investing over £3 million to train a new generation of doctoral researchers in non-destructive evaluation (NDE). NDE is the science of inspecting materials and structures without damaging them—using techniques like ultrasound, X-rays, and electromagnetic sensors to find hidden cracks, corrosion, or manufacturing flaws. Without it, aircraft would not fly and power stations could not operate safely. Industry leaders have identified a critical skills shortage in this area, compounded by an ageing workforce and the rise of new materials, advanced manufacturing, and the need to extend the life of ageing national infrastructure. If successful, the Centre for Doctoral Training (FIND) will produce graduates who move directly into senior technical roles across aerospace, energy, nuclear, and defence sectors. These researchers will help integrate NDE into the so-called fourth industrial revolution—the seamless linking of physical and digital systems. The result could be safer aircraft, longer-lasting power plants, and more efficient manufacturing, all underpinned by a workforce capable of developing and deploying the next generation of inspection technologies.
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The vision of the FIND CDT is to be a leading international centre of excellence in Doctoral-level training in sensing, imaging and analysis for Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE). Our aim is that in 8 years' time all the major end-users of NDE will have at least one of our doctoral graduates progressing to senior research and technical roles. These graduates will have been instrumental in making UK industry world leaders in the integration of NDE in the anticipated 4th industrial revolution (i.e. the seamless integration of the physical and digital domains). NDE is an underpinning technology that encompasses a wide range of sensing, imaging and analysis techniques. The societal impact of NDE is hugely significant; aircraft would not fly and power stations would not generate electricity without the use of NDE to ensure their safe and continued operation. It is used at every stage in the engineering life-cycle: a) during manufacture to ensure quality, b) through-life to ensure safety and c) for plant life-extension. NDE is also an economic enabler that is crucial for many important industrial sectors, e.g. aerospace, energy, nuclear, automotive, defence and renewables. As an underpinning technology NDE supports many aspects of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, such as clean energy and future manufacturing. FIND has been actively co-created by a consortium of 49 companies including industry sector leaders such as: Airbus, Rolls-Royce, EDF, BAE Systems and Shell who are contributing over £3M in cash. These companies have identified a significant doctoral skills shortage in this area as well as an ageing workforce. This skills need is driven by developments such as new materials, advanced manufacturing technologies, robotic systems, the civil nuclear renaissance and the pressing requirement to extend the life of our ageing national infrastructure. This vision will be achieved through a cohort-based approach to training that will equip our graduates with an ability to research, develop and implement state-of-the-art NDE techniques as well as a clear understanding of the challenges faced by industry. We will develop this training as an evolution of the current CDT in Quantitative Non-Destructive Evaluation, with all aspects refreshed and extended based on the identified new and evolving industrial needs, both technical and skills based. We align our research with new themes: Future NDE technologies, Future infrastructure NDE and Future manufacturing NDE, designed to drive forward the 4th industrial revolution. Our technical training will cover the range of NDE sensing and imaging techniques (e.g. electromagnetic, ultrasonic, radiographic) and the analysis of data (e.g. signal processing, detection theory). Transferable skills training will be delivered through tailored modules co-created with our industrial partners. The co-creation means that industry will be involved in delivering aspects of the taught modules as well as providing significant placements and funding. For example, with industry we will develop training to ensure that our graduates have the skills needed to innovate and bring new research to market. Through these partnerships we will ensure that our CDT delivers the breadth and depth of doctoral training required by industry, enabling our graduates to play major roles in ensuring future UK prosperity.
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