Smart Functional Materials
Smart Functional Materials are defined as those materials that change significantly one or more of their physical or chemical native properties when subjected to changes in their environment, thus rendering them stimuli-responsive.
Smart functional materials are the basis of many applications, including sensors and actuators, artificial muscles, self healing materials, electroactive polymers etc. The range of application sectors is correspondingly large, including: information and communications technology, energy generation and storage transport, Healthcare, defence,consumer goods.
Many of the applications depend upon the use of multiple smart functional materials. Unlike many materials that are used in large volumes (such as, for example, building or packaging materials), the value of most smart functional materials lies in their enabling capabilities. Their economic impact comes from the effects of applying the devices and systems that use them, rather than the economic value of the materials themselves.
Related Opportunities
Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2023
Opens: 19/01/2023 Closes: 14/06/2023
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. The dates for this round of Smart have been extended to maximise funding opportunities for applicants.
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Innovate UK Transformative Technologies
Opens: 20/02/2023 Closes: 29/03/2023
UK registered small and micro businesses who have not been funded by Innovate UK in the past can apply for a share of up to £20 million for affordable, adoptable and investable innovations in transformative technologies.
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Innovation Exchange challenge: Seeing in the Dark
Opens: 28/02/2023 Closes: 31/03/2023
CCTV cameras are important surveillance and crime prevention tools, but they can be vulnerable to tampering or sabotage. Innovate UK KTN and NSTIx Op-Tech Co-Creation Centre is offering grant funding to develop an applique protection system for CCTV cameras. The challenge aims to provide a…
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BSGN Advanced Materials Accelerator: deep-dive into microgravity-enabled opportunities for advanced materials
Following the launch event of the BSGN Accelerator on 20th September, Innovate UK KTN hosted a virtual deep-dive workshop on the 17th October to provide a forum for experts from the materials community, space community and service providers to come together to discuss the opportunities developed in Phase One.
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BSGN Advanced Materials Accelerator: deep-dive into microgravity-enabled opportunities for advanced materials
Following the launch event of the BSGN Accelerator on 20th September, Innovate UK KTN hosted a virtual deep-dive workshop on the 17th October to provide a forum for experts from the materials community, space community and service providers to come together to discuss the opportunities developed in Phase One.
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Related News
13/10/2022
Future of advanced materials showcased at Materials Research Exchange 2022
Materials Research Exchange, the UK’s flagship materials event, showcasing the future of advanced materials, saw 650 delegates, 163 speakers and 73 exhibitors come together at the Business Design Centre in London on the 3-5th of October 2022, for the first time in over two years.
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21/10/2022
Investor Showcase at Materials Research Exchange 2022
The MRE Investor Showcase event offers a gateway to some of the UK’s leading innovators who are bringing ground-breaking ideas to fruition, directly into the advanced materials sector. Participating in this year’s Investor Showcase were 23 exciting companies across the materials value chain, including metamaterials, materials for space, graphene, bio-based materials, energy and construction materials.