The International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM) is pleased to announce the extension of its well-established academic–industry collaboration framework agreement broadening its scope to include a wider range of topics including materials, chemistry, catalysis, biosciences, and subsurface, with a focus on enabling technologies that support bp’s ambition to deliver energy to the world, today and tomorrow.
The ICAM is a well-established partnership between bp, The University of Manchester, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since its launch in 2012, the ICAM has supported research ranging from PhD-led exploratory projects to large-scale strategic initiatives involving multiple teams. The Centre has strengthened research capabilities, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and provided students and early career researchers with valuable experience working alongside bp experts. Its model embeds bp Mentors within project teams, ensuring research remains industrially relevant and accelerates translation from laboratory to application.
Building on more than a decade of interdisciplinary research in materials science, the ICAM will continue to make a difference in today’s energy systems and help build tomorrow’s, while aligning with bp’s strategic interests and technology roadmaps.
The ICAM’s research supports bp’s ambition to be a net zero company and to help get the world to net zero by 2050 or sooner by improving understanding of materials, processes and energy systems that can lower emissions and enhance performance. Recent examples include research on sustainable catalysts for CO₂ conversion through the ICAM’s EPSRC Prosperity Partnership on Sustainable Catalysis for Clean Growth, and work to develop better modelling tools for sustainable aviation fuel.
Photo left to right: Dr Kirsty Salmon (bp), Dr Cathy Tway (bp), Professor Mary Ryan (ICL), Professor James Elliott (UoC), Professor Nancy Sottos (UIUC), Professor Sarah Sharples (UoM), Professor Sarah Haigh (UoM), Dr Mandar Thakare (bp), Professor Colette Fagan (UoM), Mahesh Natarajan (bp).
In recent years, the ICAM has welcomed additional expertise from associate members including Cardiff University and Johnson Matthey, both central to its previously mentioned Prosperity Partnership as well as University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield and University of Texas at Austin.
In its next chapter, the ICAM will continue to exemplify what can be achieved when industry and academia work together to address energy challenges.
“We are excited to build on more than a decade of impactful research and take things to the next level. With renewed commitment from ICAM’s partners, we can tackle current and future energy challenges with greater agility while strengthening academic–industry collaborations and empowering the next generation of researchers to drive real-world innovation. I am confident this phase will deliver the advances needed to achieve a sustainable energy ecosystem.”
Professor Sarah Haigh, ICAM Director, and Professor of Materials Characterisation, The University of Manchester
“ICAM is in a strong position to leverage its academic collaborations and expand into new areas, bringing in supply chain partners, SMEs, funding bodies and additional academic institutions worldwide. Together, we aim to support today’s energy systems and help shape tomorrow’s.”
Dr Mandar Thakare, Associate Director of ICAM, bp
“As we look to the next phase of ICAM, our focus will be on translational research that not only advances fundamental science but accelerates real-world impact. By fostering collaboration across universities and disciplines, we aim to unlock breakthroughs that make new technologies commercially viable faster, investing in today’s energy ecosystem while shaping the future.”
Dr Cathy Tway, Chief Chemist and VP University Partnerships, bp
“The University of Manchester’s involvement in ICAM has delivered significant benefits for our researchers, students, and the wider city region. It has helped us grow our research activities across the university and strengthen our innovation ecosystem. Its success contributed to Manchester securing major initiatives such as the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials. The renewal of this collaboration enables us to build on that momentum and continue delivering research with real-world impact.”
Professor Colette Fagan, Vice president for Research, The University of Manchester
“ICAM gives us the freedom to take risks and build large interdisciplinary teams, which is the beauty of genuine partnership where independence and application reinforce each other. This approach is key to driving the energy transition. If we are bold enough to address both economic value and climate goals at once, we can create technologies that are sustainable and scalable. Partnerships like ICAM show how we can align prosperity with planetary responsibility.”
Professor James Elliott, Professor of Macromolecular Materials Science, University of Cambridge
“Imperial is proud to be a founding partner of ICAM, a collaboration that takes fundamental science discoveries and applies them with purpose to deliver real-world impact. Over the past decade, we have contributed to more than 40 projects and supported over 60 early career researchers, spanning eight departments. ICAM has catalysed interdisciplinary research within Imperial and strengthened connections across our partner institutions. Its renewal is a testament to the leadership and community that share ideas freely and work together to make meaningful change. Working in partnership is the only way to achieve significant impact, and we are excited to continue building on this spirit of collaboration to tackle the challenges ahead.”
Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise, Imperial College London
“When ICAM began in 2012, we knew the collaboration would be impactful, but we could not have imagined how meaningful it would become. If ICAM has taught us one thing, it is that together we can address challenges and make discoveries that would not have been possible alone. The perspectives gained from working closely with experts at a leading energy company are unique and invaluable. The extension gives us the opportunity to build on this foundation and develop high-impact projects that engage the wider university community and external partners, including government, industry, and entrepreneurs.”
Professor Nancy Sottos, Head of Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Swanlund Endowed Chair and Center for Advanced Study
“Through our EPSRC Prosperity Partnership, we have been able to further enhance ICAM’s capabilities with Cardiff University’s expertise in catalysis research. As an associate member, we have benefitted from the collaborative ethos of ICAM and being able to work on the transformative research that will lead to real industrial innovation.”
Professor Duncan Wass, Principal Investigator of EPSRC Prosperity Partnership on Sustainable Catalysis for Clean Growth, Cardiff University
News – 11th Jun 2025
News – 11th Feb 2025
