To help our members understand the landscape, we have produced a number of documents, compiled using data from published university research, the UK Research Councils, Innovate UK. Our staff also undertake visits and have numerous individual discussions with leading academics and research and training organisations’ staff.
Polymers range from hard to very soft materials, and both synthetic and natural polymers play an essential part in everyday life. Polymers are studied with their disciplines of biophysics, macromolecular science, polymer science, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and latterly, academic institutions have been investigating citizen interactions using behavioural science to understand the systems in which polymers are used.
Almost all polymer research in the UK is funded either by companies in their internal R&D departments or by governments, primarily carried out through universities funded by UKRI. Businesses also tend to collaborate with large academic institutions due to the specialised and costly equipment that is best suited to the university environment.
Two reports have been carried out by Innovate UK Business Connect: an Industry Guide to Polymer Research and UK Academic Capability in Plastics Research, produced in conjunction with Eunomia. If you like further information and connections to the academics, please join our network and contact us directly.
