Experimental Equipment Call- Queen's University Belfast Submission

国际领先的工程和科学要求不断升级和更换实验设备和设施，以满足加速先进功能材料研究所需的竞争挑战，具有针对性的设计，性能和功能，以确保英国和欧委会在创新，商业翻译和社会影响方面的未来进步。该提案旨在升级和更换贝尔法斯特女王大学（QUB）工程和物理科学领域的一些关键研究领域的设备和设施。具体来说，在数学和物理学院以及电子、电气工程和计算机科学学院拥有世界领先中心的介电学研究小组的旗舰活动正在寻求替换和升级用于新型介电材料和结构表征的设备（bundle #1）。该设备的调试将确保我们在影响国际学术和工业项目方面的持续成功，为英国提供从新型先进功能材料中获得知识产权的重要机会。QUB的先进材料研究严重依赖于15年的透射电子显微镜，这种显微镜正在迅速接近过时。因此，如果我们要满足维护和发展我们的国际，全球声誉的需求，替换显微镜（包#2）对于QUB的大型先进材料组合至关重要。机械测试和现场测量不仅是昆士兰大学工程与物理科学学院在各种活动中评估材料性能和功能的一个组成部分，而且在医学、健康与生命科学领域也是如此。Bundle #3侧重于机械测试和现场测量设备的更换和升级，以支持QUB的先进材料，结构组件和海洋能源开发。用于支持这一国际领先研究议程的设备在10-20年之间，不符合我们当前或未来对先进材料测试和开发的要求。包4中概述的先进材料表征设备被要求直接替换接近或已经达到其工作寿命的设备。这种能力对大学范围内的众多研究项目至关重要；与这项研究活动相关的临界质量跨越了工程与物理科学、医学、健康与生命科学等各个学院。国际领先的等离子体物理中心（CPP）正在要求更新和提升TARANIS的能力（bundle #5），这将确保CPP保持在国际科学的前沿。如果昆士兰大学要在促进技术发展和研究优势方面发挥积极作用，所要求的设备具有至关重要的战略价值，其供应将确保我们在研究资助者和工业合作伙伴中保持竞争力和领先地位。拟议的最先进的设备将是确保QUB先进功能材料研究在解决英国和欧盟主要材料研究战略和政策文件中所阐述的技术挑战方面处于领先地位的关键成功因素。

International leading engineering and science requires the continual upgrading and replacement of experimental equipment and facilities to meet the competitive challenges needed for the acceleration of advanced functional materials research with targeted design, properties and function to ensure the future advancement of the UK and EC in terms of innovation, commercial translation and societal impact. This proposal aims to upgrade and replace equipment and facilities across a number of key research areas in Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast (QUB). Specifically, the flagship activity of the Dielectrics research group with world-leading centres in the School of Mathematics and Physics and the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is seeking to replace and upgrade equipment used for novel dielectric material and structure characterisation (bundle #1). The commissioning of this equipment will ensure our continued success in influencing international academic and industrial programmes, giving the UK a significant opportunity for IP generation from novel advanced functional materials. Advanced materials research in QUB is critically dependent on 15 year transmission electron microscope that is rapidly approaching obsolescence. Thus a replacement microscope (bundle #2) is of paramount importance to a large advanced materials portfolio in QUB if we are to meet the demands with maintaining and developing our international, worldwide reputation. Mechanical testing and field measurement is not only an integral component within the Engineering & Physical Science faculty at QUB for evaluation of material performance and function across a diverse range activity, but also in Medicine, Health & Life Sciences. Bundle #3 focusses on the replacement and upgrade of mechanical testing and field measurement equipment to support advanced materials, structural component and marine energy development across QUB. The equipment used to support this internationally leading research agenda is between 10-20 years old, and does not meet our current or future requirements for advanced materials testing and development. The advanced materials characterisation equipment outlined in bundle #4 is being requested as a direct replacement for equipment that is approaching or has already reached the end of its working-life. This capability is of significant importance to a multitude of University-wide research programmes; the critical mass associated with this research activity straddling every School across the faculties of Engineering & Physical Sciences and Medicine, Health & Life Sciences. The internationally leading Centre for Plasma Physics (CPP) is requesting a refresh and uplift to the TARANIS capabilities (bundle #5), which will ensure that CPP maintains at the international scientific cutting edge.The equipment being requested is of vital strategic value if QUB are to have an active role in contributing to technological evolution and research superiority, its provision will ensure we remain competitive and leading with research funders and industrial partners. The proposed state-of-the-art equipment will be a critical success factor in ensuring that advanced functional materials research at QUB is at the forefront in tackling the technological challenges articulated in key UK and EC materials research strategic and policy documents.