About us

The brilliance of butterfly wings has inspired a £3.2m, three-year research and exploitation project that promises to deliver innovation in the fields of security, energy and the environment. The University of Exeter and international technology company QinetiQ are collaborating in the development of new technologies based on world leading physical sciences research carried out within the University.

The Partners
University of Exeter is a top 10 UK university which combines world leading research with very high levels of student satisfaction. It is one of the UK’s most popular and successful universities with campuses in Exeter, Devon, and Tremough in Cornwall. The University also has a permanent office in Dubai. Exeter University secured new research funding of £48 million in 2009. It has research strength in depth across all of its disciplines. Areas of particular research excellence include, translational medicine, climate change and sustainability, systems biology, extra solar planets and functional materials, which is where Arkiris fits in.

QinetiQ is a leading international provider of technology-based services and solutions to the defence, security, energy and environment markets. QinetiQ develops and delivers services and solutions for government organisations, predominantly in the UK and US, including defence departments, intelligence services and security agencies. In addition, QinetiQ provides technology insertion and consultancy services to commercial and industrial customers around the world.

EPSRC are the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £800 million a year in a broad range of subjects – from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering.

The Project
Over the next three years a team of physicists from the University of Exeter and QinetiQ will work together to develop new technologies, based on their patented discoveries in the field of tailored electromagnetic materials – made, in part, by studying the wings of butterflies. The team has uncovered the way in which the physical properties of butterflies’ wings produce iridescence. By mimicking the unique structures of these wings, they aim to develop new product innovations in the markets of anti-counterfeit technology, radio-frequency identification technology, Wi-Fi efficiency and security.

The Team
An industry experienced entrepreneur has been appointed to oversee the delivery of the project supported by a Technology Director with experience in identifying and developing early stage opportunities and a Project Manager experienced in SME general management. The project is governed by a Delivery Board consisting of representatives from the University and QinetiQ as well as Non-Executive Directors and special advisors. The project has some pivotal scientific advisors such as:

Professor Roy Sambles FRS - Professor of Experimental Physics and leader of the, Electromagnetic Materials Group. Professor Sambles is in charge of a large research team exploring next-generation electromagnetic technologies including liquid crystal displays, photonic surfaces and metmaterials for microwaves. He is a World figure in these research areas. He has held research grants amounting to several millions of pounds of Government, Industry and EU funding over the last twenty five years

Professor Bill Barnes - Professor of Photonics, Electromagnetic Materials research group. Prof Barnes is also Scientific advisor to the European Commission funded Network of Excellence on the topic of molecular scale photonics.

Professor David Wright - Professor of Engineering, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. Prof Wright is Theme Leader for Functional Materials research. His research expertise are in experimental and theoretical characterisation of the recording and readout processes in optical, magnetic, solid-state and probe-based memory systems and devices. Professor Wright leads the UK Government (DTI) funded UK Data Storage Network, the EUs Special Strategic Action on Memory Technology and ProTeM - the EUs only Integrated Project mass data storage technology.

Sir Robin Nicholson FRS, FREng - Sir Robin served in the UK Cabinet Office as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister between 1981 – 1986 and is a former Director of Pilkington PLC and Non-Executive Director of Rolls Royce PLC. He is now a member of the University Council.

The team aims to launch its first innovation in spring 2010 and will be hosting a number of investor forum events at the University and in London. These events are part of the Arkiris’s commitment to create and develop a lasting legacy of strong relationships with business angel networks and venture capitalists both nationally and in the South West region. It is our intention to create an attractive investment vehicle to nurture a culture of science and technology based investments for the University and South West region. Arkiris is working closely with Exeter’s prestigious new Science Park project to help achieve this goal.

Additional Links