The facility
A flagship nanofabrication and cleanroom for teaching, research and innovation in the North East of England
Why This Facility Matters
Newcastle University established Europe’s first academic cleanroom in the 1960s. Building on that pioneering legacy, we are creating a new flagship nanofabrication facility for the North East.
By transforming existing research space on our campus, we will provide state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research and innovation. The Faculty-managed facility will support undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics, while also giving collaborators and commercial users access to specialist capabilities and expertise.
The Great Northeast Cleanroom gives the region a practical route from advanced materials and device concepts to working prototypes. The facility will support the next generation of semiconductor, quantum, microsystem and biomedical technologies.
Semiconductors
This facility with allow device prototyping with end-to-end micro- and nanofabrication for semiconductors. The provision of a flagship semiconductor nanofabrication facility for the North East is critical at a time when the government is placing huge emphasis on developing UK semiconductor expertise and capability.
This is particularly timely given the recent launch of the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy which has committed to investing £1 billion in the next decade to improve access to infrastructure and power more research and development.
MEMS/NEMS
The infrastructure will allow for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) to be used. The facility will support research, training and industry innovation across MEMS/NEMS. Newcastle develops microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems that combine mechanical structures with electronic sensing and control. Our research spans miniature sensors, actuators, resonators and integrated microsystems for healthcare, industry and environmental monitoring.
The Great Northeast Nanofabrication Facility supports the translation of device concepts into functional prototypes through lithography, thin film deposition, etching and characterisation.
Photonics and Quantum devices
Newcastle brings together expertise in photonics, semiconductor physics and quantum materials to develop devices that generate, manipulate and detect light. Phonics and quantum technologies will be able to advance thanks to research and device prototyping in the facility. Undergraduates, MSc’s, CDT’s and PhD students will be able to contribute to semiconductors, microsystems, photonics, healthcare technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The Great Northeast Nanofabrication Facility provides a platform for fabricating and characterising these structures, connecting fundamental materials research with device engineering and supporting collaboration between physicists, engineers and industrial partners across the region.
Bioengineering and Healthcare
Newcastle combines microfabrication with biomedical engineering to develop technologies for understanding disease, restoring function and improving healthcare. Our research includes implantable neural interfaces, visual prostheses, optogenetic stimulation, biosensors and miniature systems for recording and controlling biological activity.
The Great Northeast Nanofabrication Facility supports fabrication and characterisation, alongside Newcastle’s expertise in neuroscience, medicine and device engineering. Working across disciplines, we address challenges in miniaturisation, packaging, power delivery and long term reliability, helping researchers develop experimental platforms and prototypes for future diagnostic, therapeutic and assistive technologies.
Energy and Environmental Devices
The facility will enable energy and environmental devices to be prototyped. Newcastle develops materials and devices for cleaner energy, efficient resource use and environmental monitoring. Our research spans electrochemical technologies, fuel cells, energy storage and sensors for assessing water quality and detecting pollutants.
The Great Northeast Nanofabrication Facility connects fabrication and characterisation with expertise in electrochemistry, materials and electronics, supporting the development of prototypes that address efficiency, durability, resource consumption and integration into wider energy and monitoring systems.