STFC commissioned WECD to carry out a study on the impact of cryogenics, an enabling low-temperature technology rooted in the application of physics and thermodynamics.
The UK has a particularly strong cryogenic academic and business community, established over the last 60 years. This exceptional community is growing and thriving, and delivers substantial economic impact to the UK economy.
Based on supply chain analysis, WECD estimate:
The report asserts that STFC is at the heart of cryogenics research and technology development in the UK, and its cryogenics capabilities are wide-ranging. As one of Europe's largest research organisations, STFC operates world-class facilities requiring and deploying cryogenics expertise, helps develop new technologies, and provides long-term research funding to universities to support scientific areas that are reliant on cryogenics.
The report captures the importance of STFC’s contributions to this field, through examples such as:
In fact, the UK’s cryogenics cluster is centred on Oxfordshire, and emanated from the interaction between STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), the University of Oxford and industry, ranging from specialist SMEs to global businesses
Oxfordshire Cryogenics Cluster Map
(Credit: British Cryogenics Cluster (http://bcryo.org.uk/))
To read more about STFC’s long term leadership role in cryogenics-related work in the UK and worldwide, how cryogenics is supporting future potential scientific advancements, and the economic and social significance of the cryogenics community in the UK, view the full Cryogenics Impact Report.
A copy of the Cryogenics Impact Summary report including the infographics is available here.
Last updated: 03 March 2016