The Bragg Centre Leeds
The Bragg Centre for Materials Research at the University of Leeds is a unique facility for early-stage companies developing their deeptech solutions, including Northern Gritstone portfolio companies such as Optalysys and IVFMicro.
Key Facts
The Sir William Bragg Building, in which the Bragg Centre team and associated facilities are located, was a £96m investment by the University of Leeds, making it the single largest infrastructure investment by the University.
It is the co-location of 10 world-class facilities, all with integrated equipment and expertise. It spans five faculties and 15 schools at the University, from Engineering through to Food Science and Dentistry.
Since 2022, Bragg Centre members have successfully received funding for 232 grants, with an award portfolio total of more than £140m.
Facilities with unique equipment or capability include:
4D-STEM (scanning transmission electron microscope): unique in the UK through a partnership with the manufacturer, TESCAN.
Bruker Nanoracer, also unique in the UK. A state-of-the-art system capable of capturing 50 frames per second in liquid or air, ideally suited for observing dynamic processes at high speed. This system is one of 8 different Atomic Force Microscopes located in the Atomic Force Microscopy Facility.
Royce Deposition System, a multi-chamber, multi-technique tool for thin-film growth that is unique in the UK and Europe. A bespoke set up with four chambers, connected via UHV (ultra-high vacuum) sample transfer chambers. This facility supports the early-stage development of materials for next-generation electronic devices for computing and display technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Source: The University of Leeds