Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

An icon showing the Sustainable Development Goal of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Research

Advancing semiconductor memory technology

A £1.1 million research collaboration has brought ULTRARAM memory technology closer to industrial manufacture. In June 2025, a scalable method for producing the semiconductor layers required for ULTRARAM, which is designed for fast operation and low power use, was successfully completed. The partners on the Innovate UK project comprise ¶¶Òõ̽̽App and our spin-out Quinas Technology, IQE and Cardiff University.

Supporting innovation in AI security

Artificial intelligence systems face security risks that ¶¶Òõ̽̽App spin-out Mindgard is working to identify. Drawing on our research, Mindgard develops testing methods to help organisations find weaknesses and understand potential attacks on AI technology. Mindgard raised $8 million to develop its products and business; this investment illustrates how university research can lead to new commercial technologies in cyber security and demonstrates Lancaster’s role as a leader in cyber innovation.

Teaching and learning

Practical engineering solutions

The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App Formula Student Team is a group of Engineering students undertaking an ambitious and technically demanding project as part of their master’s dissertation. Their goal is to rebuild, refine and deliver a competitive electric Formula Student race car, applying advanced engineering principles in a real-world motorsport environment. The project also involves teamwork, planning and managing technical constraints. Bringing these tasks together helps the students develop engineering and project-management skills beyond the classroom.

Developing sustainable enterprise ideas

Forty-two students from nine ¶¶Òõ̽̽App colleges took part in ECOChallenge 2025, supported by Work in Progress and LUSU Green. Teams attended workshops before developing ideas to address community sustainability problems. Furness College’s Binnovation project won first place with a proposal to improve campus bin stores and recycling. Other ideas addressed food waste at events and refillable drinks. The challenge gave students experience in pitching, teamwork and developing sustainable enterprise ideas.

Teaching applied innovation

The Innovation and ¶¶Òõ̽̽App in a Global Arena module on our MSc Business Innovation and Entrepreneurial Management degree examines the strategic role of innovation in addressing global sustainability challenges and enabling organisations to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and environmentally vulnerable world. Students develop analytical and strategic capabilities required to lead innovation for sustainable impact in entrepreneurial organisations, NGOs, and public sector institutions.

Engagement and outreach

Helping businesses adopt new technologies

A pioneering project bringing new technology and capabilities to professional services firms across the UK has been cited in the Government’s 2025 Industrial Strategy. The (TiPS) innovation adoption accelerator worked with more than 60 small and medium-sized law and accountancy firms to provide training and advice on adopting technology, including artificial intelligence. Led out of the ¶¶Òõ̽̽App Management School, the project partners are Oxford Brookes University, the University of Salford and Hyperscale Group Ltd, and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Innovate UK as part of the Next Generation Professional and Financial Services programme.

Building regional cyber partnerships

Regional cyber security partnerships connect ¶¶Òõ̽̽App researchers with businesses and other organisations and universities across north-west England. Collaborations such as North West CyberCom (NW CyberCom) and the Lancashire Cyber Partnership help to transform cutting-edge knowledge into innovative new products, services and policy, to better protect consumers, businesses and UK infrastructure. NW CyberCom won the Sector Collaboration Initiative category at the Knowledge Exchange UK Awards 2025.

Operations

Spin-out companies

Research developed at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App can reach businesses through licensing and spin-out companies. The University supports researchers with intellectual property advice, company formation and routes to market. Our portfolio includes (QUBE: LSE AIM) and Quinas Technology, which is developing ULTRARAM memory technology. These activities have created opportunities for inventions and specialist knowledge to be developed for use beyond academic laboratories.

Advanced engineering facilities

Engineering Building 2 and the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre (LQTC) provide specialist facilities for research and teaching at ¶¶Òõ̽̽App. The LQTC establishes a significant new technology presence in the north-west of England.The spaces support work with advanced materials and devices, alongside engineering education and collaboration with external partners. Access to specialist equipment allows researchers and students to test ideas, develop technical skills and investigate new technologies.