April 17, 2018, by Lindsay Brooke

Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre primed for project launch

The Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre (nmRC) is launching an innovative new scheme called NanoPrime this week which will provide funding to researchers from industry and academia to access state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise.

The scheme, funded by the EPSRC, will be officially announced on Friday 20th April at an event attended by world-leading experts in the field of nanoscale characterisation.

World-leading nanoscience

The nmRC is an interdisciplinary facility at the University of Nottingham dedicated to world-leading nanoscience and materials characterisation. Proudly home to a unique suite of over 20 instruments, the centre enables research across a diverse range of materials. Grants of up to £15k are now available to researchers from academia and industry for pump-priming and proof-of-concept studies at the nmRC.

Professor Andrei Khlobystov, Director of the nmRC said: “Nanomaterials are used extensively across a broad range of sectors such as aerospace, construction, electronics, energy and the biomedical industry. These materials are intelligently designed and require extensive characterisation as part of the product development process. NanoPrime provides researchers with capability-based training opportunities and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation within the nmRC. It will catalyse development of over 30 new research projects aimed at nanomaterials research, through equipment and expertise sharing, and by targeting proof-of-concept and pump-priming activities that are often inhibited by a substantial initiation cost barrier. Furthermore, training events based on these technical capabilities will be hosted through NanoPrime, upskilling the UK materials science research base.”

Application criteria

Two streams of funding are available through NanoPrime for proof of concept studies (up to £2k) and pump priming projects (up to £15k). The distinction between the two streams is largely based on the scale and complexity of the research undertaken. Where, often, proof of concept studies seek to appraise instrument capabilities and applicability to a particular sample and pump priming projects involve a significant amount of experimental method development. In both cases, the project is speculative or novel in nature and not yet ready for extermal funding applications.

Engineering and Physical Science researchers across UK higher education institutes, industry and other research organisations are eligible to apply. Further details of the scheme will be provided at the launch event on Friday 20th April. To attend the event, please register your attendance here. Spaces are limited to a first come, first serve basis.

NanoPrime is an EPSRC and University of Nottingham funded initiative (grant reference EP/R025282/1).

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