Metamaterials Special Interest Group

Background

In the last ten years, metamaterials technologies have increasingly been recognised by the UK Government as critical to long-term growth and competitiveness, reflected in national industrial and advanced technology priorities. The coming decade is expected to see a decisive shift from laboratory discovery to industrial translation and scale-up. Both SMEs and large enterprises are beginning to adopt metamaterials-based approaches to develop differentiated, high-value products. This transition creates a time-sensitive opportunity for regions with strong research and industrial foundations to establish global leadership.

Scotland is exceptionally well positioned to capitalise on this opportunity. The country has played a leading role in the fundamental research underpinning metamaterials, with world-class expertise spanning electromagnetics, photonics, advanced materials, and quantum-enabling technologies. This research strength is reinforced by globally competitive industries across photonics, aerospace, defence, energy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging quantum technologies.

Scotland also benefits from a highly collaborative ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, and public sector organisations, alongside a thriving supercluster of critical technologies encompassing photonics, quantum, semiconductors, sensing, and connectivity. Together, these capabilities provide a strong foundation for Scotland to lead in the development and commercialisation of next-generation metamaterial technologies.

Metamaterials Special Interest Group

To maximise the potential that comes from the strengths we have in Scotland, we aim to establish a coordinated metamaterials ecosystem with a shared vision, roadmap, and outward-facing identity. This ambition aligns closely with Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy.

Technology Scotland, in partnership with STMicroelectronics and University of St Andrews, is collaborating on the Metamaterials Special Interest Group (SIG) which will provide a mechanism to deliver this coordination. The SIG will create a shared strategic vision for metamaterials in Scotland and ensure alignment between research excellence, industrial need, and policy frameworks.

Main Goal of the Group

The overarching aim of the Metamaterials SIG is to establish a sustainable, internationally recognised Scottish metamaterials ecosystem capable of driving economic growth, technological leadership, and societal benefit over the coming decade. It will proactively support consortium formation in response to UKRI and Innovate UK calls, facilitate structured matchmaking, organise workshops and sandpits, and contribute to policy discussions at regional and national levels. In doing so, it will lower barriers to innovation, improve bid competitiveness, and strengthen Scotland’s collective voice.

Objectives:

  • Serve as a strategic forum to accelerate collaboration between academia, industry and government agencies in the area of metamaterials.

  • Shape and advance Scotland’s vision for metamaterials, ensuring continued recognition of national capabilities at UK, European and global levels.

  • Enable effective knowledge exchange through dedicated meetings, case studies and targeted signposting.