Imperial College London
about
A global leader in science, engineering, medicine and business
Imperial College London is one of the world’s most influential science and technology universities, consistently ranked among the top institutions for both research excellence and innovation. With a mission to tackle the world’s greatest challenges, Imperial drives transformative advances in areas such as energy, climate, healthcare and advanced materials.
World-class research with real-world impact
Imperial has a greater proportion of world-leading research than any other UK university, according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
Researchers work across disciplines to address complex, global issues—from accelerating the energy transition to pioneering new materials for sustainable technologies. More than two-thirds of Imperial’s research involves international collaboration, reinforcing a role as a hub for global discovery and innovation.
expertise
Multidisciplinary expertise
Imperial’s strength in materials research lies in its ability to combine deep academic knowledge with advanced facilities and close industry partnerships. Research spans a wide range of technical specialisms critical to the centre’s mission, including:
- Energy materials – Exploring materials for fuel cells, solar technologies, energy harvesting and energy storage.
- Structural materials for transport – Developing high-temperature alloys and lightweight composites for aerospace and automotive sectors.
- Electronic and functional materials – Creating thin films and novel devices for photonics, thermoelectrics, sensors and optoelectronics.
- Biomaterials and healthcare – Advancing regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and nanomaterials for biosensing and diagnostics.
A commitment to collaboration
Imperial’s research ecosystem is highly collaborative, with strong links across departments, schools and centres—including the Department of Materials, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Dyson School of Design Engineering, the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, and the Data Science Institute. These connections enable researchers to draw on diverse expertise to co-develop solutions that are innovative, scalable and impactful.
Educating the next generation of problem solvers
Imperial’s strategy prioritises talent development, investing in the people and skills needed to shape a more sustainable and resilient future. From PhD programmes to cross-sector innovation initiatives, we equip students and researchers with the tools to translate science into societal benefit.
Driving progress together
As a founding partner of the centre, Imperial plays a central role in advancing collaborative, cross-sector innovation.
Our expertise in materials science, engineering, data and sustainability contributes directly to solving urgent challenges – helping to accelerate discovery, scale solutions and deliver meaningful impact to industry and society.
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“We were looking at academic institutions that had shared values… a commitment to coming together in a non-competitive way, which is often not how universities are set up to work”
Prof Mary Ryan
Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise
Imperial College London
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Gallery
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Matt Jackson
Co-Director
Prof Sandrine Heutz
Head of the Department of Materials
Prof Tina van de Flierdt
Head of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering
Prof Mary Ryan
Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise
Discover more
Research
Pioneering new frontiers in materials research – rethinking how we discover, extract, use and restore resources through radical science, bold ideas and deep collaboration.
Our Team
Meet world-class experts reimagining materials – from governance to social science and technical innovation – across six global partners.
Our Partners
Founded by six global partners, our Centre unites scientific excellence with industry insight – led by Rio Tinto and Imperial College London and spans four continents.
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