About us
Terahertz (THz) science and technology have undergone a transformative evolution over the past two decades, growing into a dynamic field with wide-ranging applications from fundamental research to industrial deployment. With global market estimates of $600–900 million (£480–720 million) in 2023, THz technologies are now poised to have a significant economic and societal impact.
The EPSRC NetworkPlus in Terahertz Systems acts as the UK’s central hub for collaboration in THz science, devices, systems and applications, linking academic researchers, industry and international partners. Management of the NetworkPlus is by a consortium drawn from the Universities of Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick and Glasgow.
This NetworkPlus follows Teranet, an EPSRC-funded UK-wide network active between 2014 and 2018, which aimed to unify the fragmented THz research landscape. This initiative successfully connected diverse communities through a series of consortia meetings and resulted in high-impact outputs such as the 2017 and 2023 International THz Science and Technology Roadmaps, both published in the Journal of Physics D.
The NetworkPlus builds on this foundation with a systems-level approach to collaboration, fostering deeper interdisciplinary partnerships and strategic knowledge exchange across the UK and beyond.
Our mission
Act as the UK’s central hub for THz science
Strengthen and expand the UK’s global leadership in THz research and innovation.
Collaborate for real-world impact
Foster cross-sector collaboration and accelerate the translation of research into real-world applications.
Champion future talent
Develop future leaders in the field and embed equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) throughout our operations.
Objectives
International collaboration
Forge and expand partnerships between the UK and international THz communities, leveraging opportunities such as the DFG INTEREST programme and UKRI lead agency agreements.
Thematic Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Launch six inclusive SIGs representing key areas of THz research to promote focused collaboration, technical innovation and knowledge sharing.
Showcase excellence
Highlight cutting-edge UK research at annual national meetings and events, amplifying outputs from the NetworkPlus and EPSRC-funded THz projects.
Flexible funding scheme
Support mobility, seed funding, pilot projects and feasibility studies that stimulate innovative collaboration across disciplines and institutions.
Industrial engagement
Host sector-specific events, training and showcases to promote two-way engagement between researchers and industry.
Career development
Empower early and mid-career academics through targeted leadership, training and international collaboration programmes.
Ten-year roadmap
Co-create a comprehensive, community-led roadmap identifying future research opportunities, innovation pathways and policy recommendations.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
Integrate EDI principles in all aspects of governance and activity, supported by ringfenced Access and Outreach funds.
Advocacy and representation
Provide a unified voice for the UK THz community, promoting its needs and achievements to funders, stakeholders and policymakers.
Aligned projects
Alongside the NetworkPlus, the following projects were funded by EPSRC under an aligned call for projects in THz technologies and systems:
- TWISST: Terahertz Wave-Induced Spin-Switching Technology (external link), led by Dr Darren Graham at the University of Manchester.
- Integrated THz Time-Domain Devices for Real-Time Hyperspectral Tomography (external link), led by Professor Michael Johnston at the University of Oxford.
- Adaptive Terahertz Components for Advanced Integrated Systems (external link), led by Professor James Lloyd-Hughes at the University of Warwick.