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| SPECIFIC (innovation & knowledge centre) | |
|---|---|
| Name | SPECIFIC (innovation & knowledge centre) |
| Established | 2013 |
| Location | Swansea, Wales |
| Affiliation | Swansea University |
| Type | Innovation and knowledge centre |
SPECIFIC (innovation & knowledge centre) is an applied research and commercialisation centre based in Swansea, Wales, affiliated with Swansea University. It focuses on next‑generation building technologies, renewable energy, and advanced materials to bridge academic research and industrial deployment. The centre works with universities, corporations, funding bodies, and regional authorities to translate prototypes into marketable products.
SPECIFIC operates at the interface of Swansea University, UK Research and Innovation, and regional development agencies such as Welsh Government and Swansea Council. Its remit aligns with national initiatives including Innovate UK, Horizon 2020, and the Industrial Strategy White Paper while collaborating with industry partners like Siemens, EDF Energy, Rolls‑Royce Holdings, ArcelorMittal, and Tata Steel. The centre contributes to programmes associated with Catapult centres, Research Councils UK, and international consortia involving institutions such as Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, and Fraunhofer Society.
SPECIFIC emerged from research clusters linked to Swansea University'''s College of Engineering and College of Science, building on projects funded by European Regional Development Fund and strategic awards from Research Councils UK and Innovate UK. Early development benefited from partnerships with Welsh Development Agency, collaborations with University of Oxford spinouts, and philanthropic support reminiscent of initiatives tied to organisations such as the Wellcome Trust. Over time, the centre expanded through joint ventures with companies including Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and BP, and by participating in pan‑European programmes under Horizon 2020 and successor schemes like Horizon Europe.
Research emphasises integrated building envelopes, thin‑film photovoltaics, and energy management systems, drawing on expertise from research groups at Swansea University and partner institutions including University College London, University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and TU Delft. Scientific capabilities span materials synthesis informed by work at Max Planck Society institutes, device characterisation leveraging techniques used at Diamond Light Source and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and systems modelling related to approaches from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. The centre's teams include researchers who have published alongside authors affiliated with Nature Publishing Group, Science (journal), IEEE, Royal Society and professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
SPECIFIC develops building‑integrated photovoltaics, smart façades, and energy‑harvesting coatings, commercialising technologies through spinouts and licensing agreements with firms like Kingspan Group, Lidl (company), Balfour Beatty, Skanska, and Hochtief. Product demonstrations include façade modules inspired by concepts from Building Research Establishment projects, modular systems influenced by standards from British Standards Institution and certifications with agencies such as Lloyd's Register. The centre also prototypes battery integration and storage solutions reflecting work by Tesla, Inc. and grid management approaches similar to those from National Grid (Great Britain) and EirGrid.
Collaborative networks encompass academic partners such as University of Sheffield, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, and Newcastle University; corporate partners including Schneider Electric, ABB, Siemens Gamesa, and GE Renewable Energy; and international research organisations like CERN and European Space Agency. Funding and delivery partnerships include European Investment Bank, Barclays Bank, Royal Society Global Network, and regional development programmes coordinated with Swansea Bay City Deal stakeholders. SPECIFIC has engaged with standardisation bodies like CEN and industry consortia including the UK Green Building Council.
The centre's laboratories and pilot facilities are housed in innovation buildings adjacent to Swansea University'''s Bay Campus, incorporating cleanrooms, roll‑to‑roll coating lines, environmental test chambers, and anechoic chambers similar to facilities at National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom). Infrastructure supports scale‑up through pilot manufacturing equipment analogous to that used by Applied Materials, and testing rigs compatible with protocols from ASTM International and International Electrotechnical Commission. Onsite demonstration buildings showcase integrations comparable to projects at The Crystal (building) and pilot districts like Ebbw Vale regeneration initiatives.
SPECIFIC has influenced regional economic development within Swansea Bay City Region and contributed to policy discussions with Welsh Government, UK Parliament committees, and advisory panels tied to Committee on Climate Change. Outreach includes training and knowledge exchange with Further Education (FE) colleges and collaborations with museums and public institutions such as National Waterfront Museum, Swansea for public engagement. The centre's commercial successes and spinouts have attracted investment from venture capital firms and corporate venture arms similar to those associated with Balderton Capital, BGF (British Growth Fund), and Octopus Investments, while research outputs feature in conferences hosted by organisations like IEEE Power and Energy Society, International Renewable Energy Agency, and European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition.
Category:Research institutes in Wales