Future and Emerging Technologies

Led by Professor Adrian Hopgood, Professor of Intelligent Systems, our Future and Emerging Technologies research is helping make the world a better place.

Future & Emerging Technologies is one of five thematic areas that are written into the University of ��'s Strategy 2025. The Themes support collaboration to extend knowledge and impact in interdisciplinary research, innovation and education.

Interdisciplinarity is the new normal. For example, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) addresses big societal challenges grouped around four core topics – artificial intelligence and data, ageing society, clean growth, and the future of mobility. The Future & Emerging Technologies Theme is contributing to all of them, and it has three priority areas:

Digital Technologies, including AI (aligned with the UK’s first), extended reality (XR), and quantum technologies
Space, ranging from cosmology to satellite applications on Earth, aligned with the UK’s first
Manufacture, materials, and energy, aligned with the UK Government’s plan for a

The goals of the Future & Emerging Technologies Theme are:

To establish the ��'s international reputation as a centre of excellence for future & emerging technologies and their practical application
To provide non-elitist support for interdisciplinary research & innovation
To be a driver for economic growth through interdisciplinary research & innovation
To act as one of five coordinated thematic areas

Theme activities

The Future & Emerging Technologies Theme constantly arranges events and initiatives to develop interdisciplinary research and innovation – here are just some of the areas that have emerged with Theme support.

Artificial Intelligence and its Practical Applications (AIPA) Cluster

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European Space Agency (ESA) Business Applications

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Quantum Science and Technology Hub (QSTH)

Research areas

Many of the University's research areas cover the areas of Future and Emerging Technologies, including:

Digital and Creative Technologies research

We're fuelling technological advances in animation, visual effects (VFX), cross reality (XR), user experience (UX), computer and video games, and visual computing. Discover the work we do.

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Health Informatics

We're improving the design of computer systems and wellbeing services to make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and cost-effective, and we're exploring how technology can influence lifestyle choices and reduce health risks.

Computing

We're exploring how computational paradigms and algorithms can be used to make a positive difference in a variety of human-machine systems – and our research in computational intelligence is already making an impact.

Information systems student reaches into server

Civil Engineering

We're working to better understand the increasingly-complex and highly-pressurised nature of modern construction – from the rising prevalence of hybrid technology, to the challenges of managing component supply chains.

Architecture and surveying design on paper

Operational Research and Logistics

We're researching how we can apply quantitative methodologies to improve decision-making across a range of diverse fields of application.

Large ship at industrial port, loading containers

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Mechanical and Design Engineering

Explore the work we're doing in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Engineering – our two areas of expertise in Mechanical & Design Engineering research.