Research Partnerships
Durham University
Our partnership with Durham University is the foundational agreement upon which the institute was established. Growing out of an industry collaboration with ultrasonic instrument manufacturer, Coltraco Ultrasonics, the partnership began as a means for undergraduate and postgraduate students across STEM subjects to contribute towards research in a variety of industrial sectors. From 2013 to 2026, over 180 Durham students have taken part in the initiative and, as of January 2026, over 170 academic staff at Durham are affiliated with DIRDI.
Centre for Industrial Ultrasonics, CIU
The Centre for Industrial Ultrasonics consists of a team of 30 researchers at Warwick University, led by Professor Steve Dixon FDIRDI. The centre was set up to help industrial organisations obtain access to specialised research expertise and equipment related to ultrasonics.
National Physics Facility, CORDE
Formally launched in 2025, the Collaborative R&D Environment operates as a National Facility for Physics in Cambridge, facilitating national access to the Cavendish Laboratory's equipment, resources and knowledge base. Led by Dr David Ward FDIRDI, Head of Characterisation at CORDE and DIRDI Advisory Board member, our two organisations have partnered to bring cutting-edge instrumentation, technicians, and instrument scientists to researchers.
The Strategy, Statecraft, and Technology (Changing Character of War) Centre
SST-CCW, based at Pembroke College, Oxford, is an interdisciplinary research centre for the study and evaluation of strategy, statecraft, the impact of technological change, and the character and nature of armed conflict. Dr Robert Johnson FDIRDI, Director of SST-CCW has been a longstanding Fellow of DIRDI. Our two organisations host joint events in Oxford to deepen the intersection of geostrategic thinking and scientific discovery.
The Hub for Applied Bioinformatics (HAB)
HAB's mission is to create a collaborative environment where ideas and expertise can be shared freely, leading to greater productivity and innovation in the field of bioinformatics. Led by DIRDI Advisory Board Member, Dr Alessandra Vigilante FDIRDI of King's College London, HAB is a community of data analysts and health and biosciences experts.
The Police Digital Service (PDS)
The Police Digital Service was created in 2021. Sitting within the Home Office, it is recognised as a critical part of the UK policing ecosystem. Led by Edward Preece FDIRDI, Chief of Staff and Director of Governance and Performance at the PDS, the collaboration was established to provide interdisciplinary research support in regard to the development and implementation of new technologies for policing.
The Royal Navy
The Centre for Underwater Acoustic Analysis (CUAA) was established in 2021 via a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Navy, as Director-General, Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE FDIRDI's "Gift to the Nation". Current and former senior naval officers who are DIRDI Visiting Fellows include, Vice Admiral Sir Nick Hine KCB FDIRDI, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE FDIRDI, Rear Admiral Iain Lower CB FDIRDI, Vice Admiral Mike Utley CB OBE FDIRDI, and Rear Admiral James Parkin CBE FDIRDI.
If you have any questions about our research partnerships, or would like to discuss how your organisation could partner with DIRDI, please reach out to us on services@dirdi.org and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.