Research centres and strategic partnerships

The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences is home to a number of research centres and doctoral training initiatives that reflect our commitment to collaborative, challenge-led research.

Our researchers and students play a leading role in shaping technological and scientific innovation, both within Heriot-Watt and across national and international partnerships.

Centres for Doctoral Training

We host and participate in several UKRI-funded Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), offering structured PhD programmes that combine advanced research with professional development and industry engagement.

Our hosted CDTs include:

• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS CDT): Equipping the next generation of robotics researchers with the skills to advance intelligent systems across sectors.
• EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre in Optical and Photonic Technologies (IDC OPT): Providing EngD programmes focused on high-impact research in photonics, developed in partnership with industry.

Our researchers are also active contributors to a range of other doctoral training programmes, including:

• Condensed Matter Doctoral Training Centre (CM-DTC)
• CRITICAT Centre for Doctoral Training in Critical Resource Catalysis
• SPADS CDT – EPSRC and MoD Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security

University-wide and thematic research initiatives

We are proud to contribute to major cross-disciplinary initiatives across Heriot-Watt and beyond:

• EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes: A national centre focused on advancing laser-based manufacturing technologies.
• Heriot-Watt Energy Academy: A pan-university virtual hub that connects and promotes all energy-related research across disciplines.

National research partnerships

Our school is a key member of several leading Scottish research alliances, fostering collaboration across institutions and disciplines:

• Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA)
• ScotCHEM – The national research alliance for chemical sciences in Scotland
• Edinburgh Research Partnership in Engineering and Mathematics (ERPE)
• Edinburgh Collaborative of Subsurface Science and Engineering (ECOSSE)

Through these centres and partnerships, we provide an exceptional training and research environment for our postgraduate students while addressing major global challenges through interdisciplinary science and engineering.