Usually associated with display technology, liquid crystals also have many other applications and uses. In this research project we are developing liquid crystal lasers, capable of broad wavelength-tuning, multiple simultaneous colour emissions, and highly customisable outputs, all within a small, portable and low-cost architecture. We are also seeking to integrate liquid crystal lasers into new photonic systems and applications, such as biomedical imaging (e.g. fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry), digital holographic projection, and 2D & 3D displays.
A start-up company formed at the University of Edinburgh has won this year's 2015 Converge Challenge Award - Scotland's premier company creation competition jointly funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Scotland's eight research-intensive universities. The win is further recognition that the university's commercialisation arm, Edinburgh Research and Innovation (ERI), is now seen as one of the most successful 'drivers' of science and technology company formation in the UK.
Chinese Internet giant Tencent, the maker of WeChat, has pinned down a significant and strategic investment with indoor mapping School startup Sensewhere (www.sensewhere.com).
