A groundbreaking prosthetic limb capable of providing a “natural-feeling sense of touch” is one of 100 innovative projects to receive funding through an £80M government-backed scheme aimed at advancing cutting-edge technologies.
The funding, announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through its Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), supports research spanning health tech, quantum computing, clean energy, and beyond. Researchers at 39 institutions across the UK will benefit from this initiative designed to foster “curiosity-driven” ideas that could transform lives and stimulate economic growth.
Key Projects Funded
- Prosthetic Limb with Touch Sensitivity
Researchers aim to integrate a realistic sense of touch into artificial limbs, enabling a more natural experience for users. - Biomarker Tool for Blood Clot Analysis
Development of advanced tools to measure blood clot formation and breakdown more accurately. - Radar-Based British Sign Language Translation System
A system that interprets British Sign Language without relying on cameras, offering greater privacy and accessibility. - Quantum-Safe Messaging Platforms
King’s College London is researching defenses against quantum attacks to secure communications. - Smart Polymer Nanoparticles
Loughborough University is advancing materials science for applications in medicine and beyond. - Robotic Surgical Training Optimization
University College London is working on human-centered machine intelligence to enhance the training of robotic surgery systems.
Comments from Stakeholders
- Lord Vallance, Science Minister:
“We are backing 100 ambitious projects across the UK which could spark the beginning of a new generation of life-changing developments. Supporting bright researchers to explore a new generation of discoveries is vital for improving lives and growing the economy.” - Prof Charlotte Deane, EPSRC Executive Chair:
“Discovery science is the bedrock of innovation, feeding the pipeline of progress critical to prosperity, sustainability, and resilience. These new projects will generate extraordinary knowledge, with global impacts.”
Strategic Importance
The scheme underscores the UK government’s commitment to advancing discovery science, emphasizing its role in driving prosperity, sustainability, and global competitiveness. Institutions such as the University of Southampton, Swansea University, and the University of Edinburgh are among the beneficiaries.
The funding supports a wide range of transformative ideas, ensuring that UK researchers remain at the forefront of innovation. Projects like touch-sensitive prosthetics and privacy-preserving sign language interpretation illustrate the potential of this investment to address pressing challenges while pushing technological boundaries.
