Laser Interference Lithography based 4D-printing of Nanomaterials is an EPSRC project (project number: 101086227)

L4DNANO aims to initiate a new process paradigm of laser interference lithograph based 4D-printing for rapidly and accurately producing truly 3D structural and large volume 4D nanomaterials. By tackling the limitations of the current 4D-printing of nanomaterials, this project seeks to initiate a new process paradigm, laser interference lithograph (LIL) based 4D-printing, for rapidly and accurately producing truly 3D structural and large volume 4D nanomaterials. It achieves this by combining the advantages of laser interference lithograph with the advanced intelligent inks, producing state-of-the-art capacity of 4D nanomaterials manufacturing. This new method has the potential to the mass-production of 4D nanomaterials and to the market intake of the nanomaterials. In our approach, LIL patterning is applied and the patterns are stitched to form truly 3D nanostructures and then the infiltration of intelligent inks is performed. The approach is based on some established principles and prior art gained within the consortium but is yet to be further explored. The project creates new knowledge on LIL and metalens for 3D patterning and nanometrology, bioactivity-toxicity of 4D Nanomaterials and micro-structures influence to battery performance/life. The research and innovation objectives are to integrate volumetric laser interference lithograph scanning and deep exposure for rapid, accurate, truly 3D structures fabrication, to develop optimal alignment between interference pattern units and across patterned layers based on the state-of-the-art nanometrology and characterisation for accurate formation of large volume 3D nanostructures, and to accomplish controlled infiltration for the formation the 4th dimension of nanomaterials. The new technique will be pioneered on biomedicine and engineering applications. The objectives are ambitious and require international level collaborations. The project addresses the collaborations by initiating a long-term collaboration platform among consortium members and beyond. It also emphasis staff development via various joint research and innovation and training activities, particularly, the carefully arranged secondments.

Emerging nanoscopy for single entity characterisation is an EPSRC project (project number: 101086226)

The project fully and creatively addresses the demand of innovative experimental and analytical tools that will lead to the discovery of new phenomena in fundamental research. The capability of interpreting phenomena at the nanoscale level has led to an unprecedented and refined understanding of structures and mechanisms of single entities. This has brought a new era across the fields of biomedicine, biophysics and biomaterial nanoscience, and thus revise our previous concepts on cellular structures and nanoscale electronics. These technologies bear an enormous potential to transform not only the advancement of our knowledge, but also the development of diagnostic/prognostic approaches. However, we currently lack the ability to conduct correlative imaging at this challenging dimension while directly linking the nanoscale mechanical, physical and electrical parameters with macroscopic phenomena. Therefore, it is timely and important to explore innovative measurement and imaging methods, which could overcome the limitations of conventional routes and become enabling technologies for the second correlative nanoscopy revolution. The proposed 'Emerging nanoscopy for single entity characterisation (ENSIGN)' project is such a novel approach, which seeks to develop a transformational, integrated approach for single entity imaging and characterisation. ENSIGN will develop and combine high speed force, electrical, and microwave nanoscopy withoptical and electron nanoscopy, to provide a quantitative, simultaneous multiparameter measurement, high speed and cost-effective beyond state-of-the-art capabilities for next generation single entity imaging, electrochemistry, mechanobiology and biomechanics. The developed nanoscopy will have unprecedented high resolution, multi-modal and multi-dimensional simultaneous imaging capabilities and be quantitative, fast and non-invasive. The obtained advanced technique will form a cornerstone for the advancement of cell biology, nanomaterials, and next generation battery, and thus keep Europe's leading position in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs in these research areas.

Nov/2024 – June/2025

Understanding the Educational Needs and Career Aspirations of Professionals in Data Science for Manufacturing, Research England Fund

The project aims to engage and support businesses within Luton in their AI transformation journey by providing tailored support and resources. Through immersive workshops, bespoke consulting exercises, and drop-in advice clinics, we seek to empower businesses at various readiness levels to understand and adopt AI tools. This will help improve efficiencies and outcomes, enhance customer experiences, and develop new product lines. Central to the project are the principles of AI safety, education, and ethics.

Length: 12 months

Budget: £11,000

5G-ERA (5G Enhanced Robot Autonomy) is an H2020 ICT and is oriented towards a user-centric paradigm of integrating vertical knowledge into the existing standardised 5G testing framework to improve Quality of Experience (QoE). The project addresses the new challenges on experimental facilities for the vertical developers and designers. Robot autonomy is essential for many 5G vertical sectors and can provide multiple benefits in automated mobility, Industry 4.0 and healthcare. 5G technology, on the other hand, has the great potential to enhance the robot autonomy. Use cases from four vertical sectors, namely public protection and disaster relief (PPDR), transport, healthcare and manufacturing will be validated in the project by rapid prototyping of NetApp solutions and enhanced vertical experiences on autonomy. These case studies can be regarded as showcases of the potential of 5G and 5G-ERA to the acceleration of the ongoing convergence of robotics, AI & cloud computing; and to unlock a next level of autonomy through 5G based learning in general. This 6-million Euro project has the consortium of 13 partners across Europe. It is 3.5 years project, starting from January 2021.

May 23 - Mar 24

The disaggregation of the open radio access network (RAN) will require greater degree of adaptability, functionality, and energy efficiency. Given that the RAN accounts for a significant fraction of energy consumption in mobile networks, it is critical to understand the influence on power utilization in particular to decrease costs and promote sustainability. This project involves development of novel energy efficient scheme to cut down communication related energy of open RAN fronthaul, especially Radio unit, by taking in to account the Open RAN constraints, such as interoperability, disaggregation and compliance.

MNR4SCell (Micro/Nano Robotics for Single Cancer), H2020-MSCA-RISE project.

This project aims at to single cancer cell biology using micro/nano robotics for exploration of the nanomechanical and electrophysiological properties of the cells.

It focuses on the staff exchange between the 8 world recognised institutions of EU and China, and the share of knowledge and ideas, and further the development of the leading edge technologies for the design, modelling, and control of micro/nano robotics and their applications in single cancer cell measurement, characterisation, manipulation, and surgery. The ultimate goal of MNR4SCell is to establish long-term international and multidisciplinary research collaboration between Europe and China in the challenging field of micro/nano robotics forsingle cancer cells in the characterisation, diagnosis and targeted therapy. The synergistic approach and knowledge established by MNR4SCell will serve as the building blocks of the micro/nano robotics and biomedical applications, and thus keep the consortium’s leading position in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs in nanotechnology and cancer therapy. This is a 6-years project and has been completed in 2023.

The project focus on the development and prototyping an innovative cloud-based and cross-domain event analysis framework by integrating transfer learning and semi-autonomous interactions into event management systems. Funder, Innovate UK GRANT_NUMBER: KTP011938, Total funding amount GBP 171,412.

NanoStencil (Nanoscale self-assembled epitaxial nucleation controlled by interference lithography) is an H2020 FETOPEN project.

By overcoming all the major limitations of conventional top-down nanostructuring, the NanoStencil project seeks to initiate a new process paradigm for the production of dense arrays of identical nanostructures ofprecise size, shape and composition. By combining the simplicity of patterning with interferometric light with the advantages of structuring by self-assembly, our method provides a single step, cost effective and state of the art capability for next generation ordered arrays of nanostructures which are vital requirementfor exploitation of the quantum regime. This 3-million Euro project has 5 partners the UK, Germany, Finland and Spain. It started from October 2017 and completed in July 2021.

The ‘Energetic Lifestyles’ project is being driven by our construction research group in collaboration with Luton Borough Council, and funded by the Local Government Association and University College London. The focus is on the user perspective and establishing an improved understanding of the perceptions and barriers to energy efficient behaviours among young people and ethnically diverse communities. By doing so, the project aims to enhance engagement of young people in particular in the development of new energy efficient technologies and initiatives, and ultimately to drive carbon reduction within the region. The project completed in 2022

RIVER - The EU recently adopted rules requiring limits to carbon emissions and type-approval of internal combustion engines for Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Directive 97/68/EC, 01/2017). This set more stringent limits for emissions from inland waterway (IW) vessels. There is an urgent need for emission reduction due to stronger environmental standards aims. Replacing NWE’s ageing fleet with RIVER technology offers the potential for emission reduction. The objective of RIVER is to reduce or eliminate the pollutants from the polluting engines. It is expected that 6600 engines on existing vessels will need to be replaced in 2018-50 and 2400 new vessels will come into operation. RIVER aims to address these issues and to apply an Oxy-fuel combustion technology for Diesel engines that eliminates NOx (part of the GHG), and to capture, store all CO2 emissions and reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%. Partners experienced in CCS, Oxyfuel engine, treatment of CO2, Engine’s control and IWT. Partners will use the research into engine control from the Interreg 2 Seas project SCODECE and results on IWT from PROMINENT EU project to support their work in RIVER. This technology will then be tested, demonstrated and embedded on an existing vessel operating in the UK. A small-scale lab transforming CO2 into bio-solvent will be implemented and a feasibility study for a large vessel will be carried out during the project.

Project information: EC funded (via Interreg NWE), over 1.9 Million Euro funding (University of Bedfordshire about 400K Euro), 10 partners and 5 associates, grant agreement no: Interreg NWE 553, 3 years, 2017 – 2020

QUARTZ (Quantum Information Access and Retrieval Theory) is a Horizon 2020 Innovative Training Network (ITN) that aims to educate its Early Stage Researchers (ESR) to adopt a novel theoretically and empirically motivated approach to Information Access and Retrieval based on the quantum mechanical framework that gives up the notions of unimodal features and classical ranking models disconnected from context.

Project information: EC funded (~£3 million, 13 ESRs fully funded for 3 years, University of Bedfordshire: 2 ESRs, >£400k). 7 European partner organisations. 48 months, 2017 - 2020. Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 721321.

FCHCV - The key objectives of this project are to assess emission benefit and driving range of fuel cell hybrid vehicle technology after selecting proper component sizing. Two different hybrid vehicle architectures are considered: range-extender electric vehicle (REEV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Among commercial vehicles, light-duty commercial vehicle (e.g. delivery van), heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and bus are selected since different vehicle type would need a different system and component sizing. Two fuel cell type (PEMFC and DMFC) will be investigated to understand which fuel cell provides the best performance for each system and vehicle type. The outcome of this project would contribute accelerating the electrification of a commercial vehicle. Commercial vehicle OEMs would be able to meet the government policy by providing zero emission while offering enough driving ranges to the customer. In the end, government and council would be able to reduce emission from transportation while maintaining social benefit.

Project information: Innovate UK funded, £250k funding (University of Bedfordshire £100K), another partner – AVL Powertrain UK, grant agreement no: 133618, 1 years, 2018 – 2019

iManageCancer - Chronic cancer treatment places new demands on patients and families to manage their own care. The iManageCancer project supports this challenge and provides a cancer disease self-management platform designed according to the specific needs of patient groups. It focuses on the wellbeing of the cancer patients with special emphasis on psycho-emotional evaluation and self-motivated goals. The platform is designed based on clinical evidence through close collaboration between clinical experts, IT specialists and patients and will be assessed in clinical pilots for adult and paediatric cancer patients.

Project information: EC funded, about 4 Million Euro funding (University of Bedfordshire >600K Euro), 9 partner institutions, 3.5 years, 2015 – 2018

Biomedical Robotics and Applications 2014-2017

The project “Biomedical Robotics and Applications (BioRA)” focuses on the staff exchange between the partners of EU and China, and on the development of new technologies and applications in the field of biomedical robotics on the macro, micro and nano scales for biological cell detection, manipulation, test and injection. It meets the objectives and requirements of the Marie Curie Action: International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES), by setting up multiple bridges between European and Chinese institutions.

The ultimate goal of BioRA is to establish a long-term research cooperation platform between Europe and China in the challenging field of biomedical robotics with promising applications in scientific, industrial and domestic sectors. The synergistic approach made by BioRA will keep the consortium’s leading position in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs in biomedical robotics and biomedical applications.

The project is divided into five inter-related workpackages: (1) Setup of knowledge base and road mapping, (2) Fundamental exploration of biomedical robotics, (3) Development of biomedical robot components and systems, (4) Dissemination and exploitation, and (5) Project management. The workpackages integrate all activities that will lead to the completion of all the project objectives within 48 months.

CHIC - CHIC proposes the development of clinical trial driven tools, services and infrastructures that supports the creation of multiscale cancer hypermodels (integrative models). CHIC aspires to make a breakthrough in multiscale cancer modelling through greatly facilitating multi-modeller cancer hyper-modelling and its clinical adaptation and validation. Standardization of model description and model “fusion” are two of the core means to achieve this goal. The creation of such elaborate and refined hypermodels is expected to sharply accelerate the clinical translation of multi-scale cancer models and onco-simulators following their prospective clinical validation.

Project information: EC funded, over 10 Million Euro funding(University of Bedfordshire >600K), 16 partner institutions, grant agreement no: 600841, 4 years, 2013 – 2017

Dr Inventor – Dr Inventor is the first web-based system that supports the exploration of scientific creativity via a computational approach, which overcomes human limitations in creativity through the retention of potentially useful comparisons between relevant works due to a broader awareness of the state-of-the-art. It features interesting functionalities that provide computer-generated research concepts and workflows that would be thought as creative if performed by a human.

Project information: EC funded, about 2.6 Million Euro funding (University of Bedfordshire >400K), 8 partner institutions, grant agreement no: 611383, 3 years, 2014 – 2017

MyHealthAvatar - This research project studies the feasibility of advancing future healthcare services by providing a patient empowerment service to promote patients’ participation in self-management for general health and long-term conditions, to raise self-awareness, knowledge and motivation for treatment compliance via risk appraisal and information provision, and to build and improve health literacy. The platform offers a set of tools to facilitate the management of long-term conditions, and to keep long-term health records of individual patients with the potential of direct linkage with future hospital information systems. MyHealthAvatar features technology innovation for healthcare, including a range of tools to automatically collect personal health data; techniques to assist self-knowledge discovery through the analysis and mining of personal health and activity data, including those identifying important events in personal life, recognising personal life patterns and detecting sudden lifestyle change, assessing health status, summarising individual performance, and supporting community activities.

Project information: EC funded, over 2.4 Million Euro funding (University of Bedfordshire >500K Euro), 9 partner institutions, grant agreement no: 600929, 3 years, 2013 – 2016

CARRE - The project investigates technologies for empowering patients with comorbidities (multiple co-occurring medical conditions), or persons with increased risk of such conditions, especially in the case of chronic cardiac and renal disease patients.

Project information: EC funded, about 2.6 Million Euro funding, 6 partner institutions, 3 years 2013 – 2016

MyLifeHub - This project develops innovative technologies for self-monitoring of daily activities, diet, sleep, mood, blood pressure, pulse, etc., which is then utilised to assess the impact of visual impairment on the quality of life of ophthalmic patients both in general health terms and in vision specific terms. The research is conducted with direct exposure to potential beneficiaries through a close collaboration with the UK Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Project information: EPSRC funded, about £310K (University of Bedfordshire >£190K), 3 partner institutions, EPSRC, EP/L023830/1, 2014 – 2016

European and Chinese Platform for Robotics and Applications 2013-2015

The project “European and Chinese Platform for Robotics and Applications (ECROBOT)” focuses on the staff exchange between the partners of EU and China, and on the development of new technologies and applications in the field of robotics on the macro, micro and nano scales. It meets the objectives and requirements of the Marie Curie Action: International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES), by setting up multiple bridges between European and Chinese institutions.

The ultimate goal of ECROBOT is to establish a long-term research cooperation platform between Europe and China in the challenging field of Robotics with promising applications in scientific, industrial and domestic sectors. The synergistic approach made by ECROBOT will keep the consortium’s leading position in the world for potential major scientific and technological breakthroughs.

The project is divided into five inter-related workpackages: (1) Setup of knowledge base and road mapping, (2) Fundamental exploration of robotics, (3) Development of robot systems, (4) Dissemination and exploitation, and (5) Project management. The workpackages integrate all activities that will lead to the completion of all the project objectives within 36 months.

GPSME – A General Toolkit for “GPUtilisation” to speed up computing performance in SME applications.

Project Information: EC, FP7-SME, grant agreement no: 286545, Total EC contribution:>1.1 million EUR, contribution to University of Bedfordshire: >500K EUR. 2011 – 2013