Roadmap sets out path to UK leadership in metamaterials

The High Value Manufacturing Catapult has helped develop a new 10-year roadmap to accelerate the translation of the UK’s world-leading metamaterials research into commercial products.

Metamaterials are engineered structures in which carefully designed elements work collectively to create properties or functions that cannot be achieved conventionally by the individual materials alone. These effects can include controlling electromagnetic waves, sound, vibration, heat and mechanical forces, opening opportunities across a wide range of technologies.

The report has been delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) in partnership with the Metamaterials Strategy Action Group (MSAG), which is comprised of: BIST, UK Metamaterials Network, MOD (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect, Institute of Physics (IOP) and National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

Chris McDonald MP, Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment said:

Metamaterials represent a significant opportunity to strengthen the UK’s technology and industrial base, supporting economic growth, and solving societal challenges. Realising this opportunity will depend on our ability to translate cutting-edge research into commercially viable products and new industrial solutions.

“I welcome the publication of the metamaterials commercialisation roadmap and its vision for accelerating innovation, attracting investment and building the partnerships needed to position the UK at the forefront of the transformative potential of metamaterials.

The roadmap forms part of the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP), which supports the UK government’s industrial strategy and advanced manufacturing sector plan. NMIP is the delivery vehicle for driving the national efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced materials in key industries. By identifying metamaterials and metasurfaces as a strategic opportunity, it aligns the roadmap with broader government goals for innovation and commercialisation.

The roadmap identifies where coordinated action could unlock further growth and strengthen the UK’s position in the emerging metamaterials market. The technology has already demonstrated advantages over conventional materials in applications including improved telecommunications, more efficient solar panels and health-sensing wearables.

The report identifies five priorities for moving metamaterials from research into commercially viable products:

• Better coordination between government, researchers, businesses, investors and other organisations involved in taking metamaterials from research to market
• Greater use of demonstrators and prototypes
• Investment in manufacturing and scale-up
• The development of testing, standards and regulation
• The development of a workforce with the technical, manufacturing and commercial skills needed to bring new technologies to market.

By 2030, the roadmap aims to strengthen coordination and manufacturing capability, supported with a clear funding pipeline to deliver early demonstrators of commercial potential. By 2035, it envisages scaled manufacturing, centres of excellence and clearer pathways to industrial adoption. Building on the UK’s existing strengths could attract investment, help companies grow and establish global leadership in metamaterials.

Download the report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-metamaterials-commercialisation-strategic-roadmap