Log in
The development by Cambridge University staff of compact semiconductor sources and detectors of Terahertz radiation has opened up this part of the electromagnetic spectrum to commercial use for the first time, enabling many applications. In medicine these applications include the analysis of drugs and the detection and imaging of cancer; in security applications the detection and imaging of explosives; and in the semiconductor industry the detection and imaging of buried defects in semiconductor wafers. High power Terahertz lasers are used in gas sensors, for imaging and as local oscillators. This technology has been exploited by a spin-off company TeraView which has 25 employees, has raised £16M in funding, £3.5M since 2008, and has sold 70 imaging systems, half since 2008 at an average cost of $300K each.
The University of Southampton's distinguished body of work on the design of technology for gamma-ray detection and imaging has informed new counter-terrorism practices. Technological advances arising from the research have been crucial to delivering significant benefits in the fields of homeland security and nuclear safety — the latter particularly in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. A spin-out company, Symetrica, currently employs 26 people in the UK and the USA, has a forecast turnover of more than £10 million for 2013-14 and has been recognised as an example of best practice. It is a technological leader in the field of radioactive isotope identification.
Research and Development activity at Cardiff University's Astronomy Instrumentation Group (AIG) has been commercialised and made available to the international market. Sales have been made to fields including bio-molecular spectroscopy for health science, plasma fusion diagnostics for sustainable energy, and remote atmospheric sensing. This has resulted in economic impact through:
The commercialisation of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) and the associated novel fabrication processes developed at the University of Glasgow has provided Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd (CSTG) with a new foundry product supplying quantum cascade lasers for gas sensing, safety and security, and military applications. This resulted in 40% turnover growth from 2010-2012 and the company is now recognised as a global leader in QCLs and their fabrication. Based on University of Glasgow research, the company has created a manufacturing toolbox for the production of a wide variety of QCL chip designs. CSTG has also achieved a world first, manufacturing QCLs for systems that detect explosives at a safe distance and can counter heat-seeking missile attacks on aircraft.
The Surrey Ion Beam Centre (based at the University of Surrey) pioneered the field of ion beam applications and is regarded as world leading, having initiated a significant number of high profile research activities for which it received recognition through the Queen's Anniversary prize in 2002. It works actively with industry, developing bespoke processes and services, particularly for the photonics industry, ultimately generating millions of pounds for the UK economy. It also serves as a European Centre for doctoral training.
Covesion, a company that was spun out of the University of Southampton, focuses on research and development of high-value engineered nonlinear crystal materials, that find widespread use in the laser, defence and display sectors. The impacts of their work fall under the headings of economic, via job creation and investment, health, through application of their products in medical imaging, and the environment, via detection of airborne pollutants and remote sensing. The company is now a multi-million pound business that has attracted more than £1m in US investment and won UK export orders around the world. The global value of Covesion-enabled commerce since the company's inception in 2009 is estimated to be in excess of US$100m.
The University of Surrey created the first international satellite constellation dedicated to monitoring natural and man-made disasters worldwide. The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) comprises 6 advanced small Earth Observation satellites built at Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) for China, Algeria, Nigeria, Turkey, Spain and the UK that can image worldwide within 24 hours to provide critical and timely information to international disaster assessment and relief agencies. The DMC has responded to over 200 major disasters and, the UN estimates, aided over 250,000 disaster victims. SSTL's subsidiary company, DMCii, has created commercial applications and services generating sales of over £130M and ~100 high-technology jobs.
Research in Durham Physics Department on optical waveguides was used to build a novel interferometer which can measure real time changes in dimension and density of a thin film adsorbed on a sensor chip. This has multiple applications in surface science and biophysics, e.g. in measuring conformal and other structural changes in proteins as they interact with drug candidate molecules. The device was developed as a commercial product by a spin-out company, Farfield Sensors, which sold the interferometers to research institutes and industry. The Farfield Group was bought in 2010 by Biolin Scientific for £2.5M.
The manipulation of electromagnetic radiation using novel materials by physicists at the University of Exeter has given rise to new technologies for military stealth applications, anti-counterfeiting measures and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) of pharmaceuticals, machinery and perishable goods. The research findings increased the global competitiveness of FTSE 250 defence and security company QinetiQ, driving innovation in its work with the MoD and leading to the creation of a successful spin-out, Omni-ID, that is meeting demand in the high-growth RFID market. Exeter's research underpinned the EPSRC decision to award the University and QinetiQ £3.2m to exploit applications of their patented technology.
The development of disentangled, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene at Loughborough University since January 2007 has provided an environmental friendly route to the manufacture of high modulus, high tensile strength tapes with applications ranging from body armour to helmets, ropes and cables. Commercialisation is being undertaken by the Japanese company Teijin, in the Netherlands, under the brand name Endumax®. The new business, started in 2011, now employs >80 staff and predicts annual sales of >€15M from 2014 with an increase of ~10% over the first five years. Competitors such as Du Pont (Tensylon®) and DSM (Dyneema BT10®) have also initiated development of products using the new process route.