Next generation applications including energy generation and storage systems, medical devices, functional lightweight composites, autonomous vehicles, packaging, and multi- functional materials such as conducting glasses, fibres, and smart polymers critically depend on the design and controlled, sustainable manufacturing of materials. Input from across different departments will be essential to create real innovation in these areas.

Advanced computational methods have reached a stage that allows the rapid theoretical design of new materials and accurate prediction of their physical properties, thereby allowing experimental synthesis and characterisation to be focused on the most promising sub-set of materials.

The Network for Advanced Materials takes an interdisciplinary approach to tackling materials challenges by designing materials across the length scale with end-user applications in mind whereby high-speed computing, rational modelling, experimentalists and participating industry partners mutually inform each other.

The combination of fundamental concepts, new designs, applied science, and classical research and development plays a pivotal role in attracting industry partners to the Oxford Advanced Materials Network. Core to the network is our systems approach and the regular exchange with policymakers and society.