Experimental Equipment Call- Queen's University Belfast Submission

国际领先的工程和科学需要不断升级和更换实验设备和设施，以应对加速先进功能材料研究所需的竞争挑战，这些材料具有针对性的设计，性能和功能，以确保英国和欧盟在创新，商业转化和社会影响方面的未来发展。该提案旨在升级和更换设备和设施，在工程和物理科学的一些关键研究领域在贝尔法斯特女王大学（QUB）。具体来说，与数学和物理学院以及电子，电气工程和计算机科学学院的世界领先中心的电介质研究小组的旗舰活动正在寻求更换和升级用于新型电介质材料和结构表征的设备（束#1）。该设备的调试将确保我们在影响国际学术和工业计划方面继续取得成功，为英国提供从新型先进功能材料中产生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，该显微镜正迅速接近过时。因此，如果我们要满足保持和发展我们的国际全球声誉的需求，更换显微镜（2号捆绑包）对于QUB的大型先进材料产品组合至关重要。机械测试和现场测量不仅是QUB工程和物理科学学院的一个组成部分，用于评估各种活动中的材料性能和功能，而且还用于医学，健康和生命科学。Bundle#3专注于机械测试和现场测量设备的更换和升级，以支持整个QUB的先进材料，结构部件和海洋能源开发。用于支持这一国际领先的研究议程的设备使用年限在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。要求提供第4批中概述的先进材料特性鉴定设备，作为即将或已经达到其工作寿命终点的设备的直接替代品。这种能力对众多的大学范围内的研究计划具有重要意义;与这种研究活动相关的临界质量跨越了工程与物理科学和医学，健康与生命科学学院的每所学校。国际领先的等离子体物理中心（CPP）要求更新和提升TARANIS的能力（捆绑包#5），这将确保CPP保持在国际科学前沿。如果QUB要在促进技术进步和研究优势方面发挥积极作用，所要求的设备具有重要的战略价值，这将确保我们在研究资助者和工业伙伴面前保持竞争力和领先地位。拟议的最先进的设备将是一个关键的成功因素，以确保在QUB先进的功能材料研究是在应对关键的英国和欧盟材料研究战略和政策文件中阐述的技术挑战的最前沿。

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.