Metamaterials for Information and Communications Technology
The rapid growth of digital technologies is driving demand for faster communications, greater bandwidth, lower latency, improved security and reduced energy consumption across information and communications systems. Metamaterials offer new ways to control electromagnetic, terahertz, optical, acoustic and spin-wave signals, enabling devices and architectures that can improve how information is transmitted, processed, sensed and secured.
Through the UK Metamaterials Network, organisations can access expertise, facilities and collaborators working across telecommunications, photonics, electronics, quantum technologies, sensing, manufacturing, modelling and low-power computing.
Applications and Opportunities
Wireless communications, 6G and intelligent surfaces
Metamaterial-enabled antennas, filters and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces can improve coverage, capacity, beam steering, spectrum utilisation and energy efficiency in future wireless networks. These capabilities are relevant to 5G expansion, 6G research, satellite communications, non-terrestrial networks and connected environments where conventional infrastructure struggles to deliver reliable performance.
Terahertz technologies and high-frequency systems
Metamaterials are helping unlock the terahertz spectrum for ultra-high-speed communications, advanced imaging, spectroscopy and security screening. Compact components and engineered surfaces can improve signal generation, modulation, detection and control at frequencies that are difficult to access using conventional technologies.
Optical communications, photonics and data infrastructure
Photonic metamaterials and metasurfaces can manipulate light at subwavelength scales, supporting next-generation optical communications, integrated photonic circuits, switching, modulation and signal processing. These technologies could help address growing energy demand in data centres, AI infrastructure and communications networks.
Low-power computing and wave-based information processing
Emerging metamaterial concepts can support analogue computing, neuromorphic systems, optical processing, magnonic devices and other wave-based approaches to information processing. These routes may enable faster, more energy-efficient computation for specialist tasks such as sensing, classification, optimisation and signal transformation.
Internet of Things, distributed sensing and edge intelligence
Metamaterial-enabled sensors, antennas and energy harvesting devices can support low-power, connected systems for smart infrastructure, industrial monitoring, environmental sensing and digital twins. These capabilities can help reduce maintenance costs, improve asset awareness and enable intelligent decision-making closer to where data is generated.
Quantum, secure communications and hardware security
Metamaterials can support quantum photonics, secure communications, physical-layer security, authentication and anti-counterfeiting. Engineered electromagnetic and optical responses can create distinctive signatures, improve component performance and enable new approaches to protecting information, devices and supply chains.
Connecting ICT Challenges with UK Metamaterials Expertise
The ICT theme draws on expertise from across the Network’s Microwave & THz, Photonic, Active, Acoustic, Mechanical, and Theory, Modelling & AI SIGs. Together, these groups support applications spanning antennas, reconfigurable surfaces, terahertz systems, integrated photonics, optical processing, acoustic information technologies, low-power sensing and AI-enabled design.
The theme aligns strongly with the Manufacturing, Defence, Security and Resilience, Space & Aviation, and Sustainability Challenge Areas, helping to connect fundamental advances in wave control with deployable information and communications technologies.
How the UK Metamaterials Network Can Help
The UK Metamaterials Network brings together expertise from academia, industry and government laboratories working across future communications, photonics, electronics, sensing, computing and secure hardware. The Network can help organisations identify technical partners, access specialist facilities, explore routes to scale-up and develop collaborative R&D programmes that accelerate the translation of metamaterial-enabled ICT solutions into real-world systems.