Engineering Research
The greatest advances arise from multi-disciplinary participation. We work with many different partners to improve our world for all.
Our close ties with industry and government provide us with a real-world focus. We work with academic experts worldwide to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding in engineering research.
Our visionary engineering research provides sustainable solutions to global challenges. We explore how to deliver a resilient future that works for everyone.
Research themes
Our inspiration comes from seeing our work have a positive real-world impact. We apply our advanced engineering expertise to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
Our research addresses five missions that collectively enhance people’s quality of life, stimulate economic growth and improve the environment.
Sustainable and resilient development
Our engineering research enhances the resilience of infrastructure services and cities to extreme weather and climate change. In the developed and developing world our new methods and technologies improve the quality and efficiency of:
- energy
- transport
- communication
- flood management
- water
- sanitation
Net zero
Our engineers are at the forefront of achieving net zero, developing new technologies for:
- renewable energy
- carbon sequestration
- energy storage (including batteries and fuel cells)
- heating and cooling
- climate resilient infrastructure
- electric motors
- transportation
- industrial processes
- low carbon materials
- carbon capture and storage
- engineering of nature-based solutions
Human health
For more than 70 years, our work in public health engineering has improved wastewater treatment, air quality, and pollution clean-up. More recently, we’ve developed technologies that adapt homes and transportation, helping aging populations stay independent for longer. Our advanced new materials, bioengineering, and neural engineering are leading to breakthroughs in artificial joints and bionic eyes. This is helping restore mobility, improve vision, and prevent seizures.
Data, digitisation and AI
We're pioneering new data-driven approaches to engineering as well as developing fundamental new technologies. This includes sensors, geospatial data acquisition and processing, smart transport and energy systems, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and microprocessors designed and optimised for AI calculations.
Together with our partners, we're putting these into practice. This is through initiatives like our flagship Urban Observatory, the world’s largest set of publicly available real time urban data. We also use our expertise in data analysis and simulation to build innovative digital twins of complex systems. This opens new possibilities for smarter, more resilient cities.
Green manufacturing and industry
Our research is underpinning the transformation in manufacturing and industry. We're helping to maintain international competitiveness and creativity through the development of new materials and innovative techniques. This includes advances in additive manufacturing and 3D printing, self‑healing materials, process intensification, and biofabrication. These breakthroughs provide cost‑effective and environmentally sustainable techniques for manufacturing and industry. Applications range from the nanoscale, through batteries, artificial limbs and wind turbines, up to construction of the built environment. Our laboratory and field research is complemented by our advanced capability to simulate complex flows and reactions in these systems using some of the world’s fastest supercomputers.
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