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The UK Research Institute (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) announced six new , including one collaboration with Nikon and ÂÒÂ×Ðã to fund the university's development of phase-contrast x-ray imaging. The Advanced X-Ray Imaging group (AXIm), led by Professor Alessandro Olivo, is one of the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering's core research groups, and the recipient of the partnership funding.

The aim of this industry and government partnership is to combine new techniques to gain more information from x-rays, in a development of the imaging quality that is being compared to the transition from black and white to colour photography — thereby putting the UK at the forefront of x-ray imaging. The partnership would have major repercussions across a range of sectors from medicine to security to manufacturing, aerospace and cultural heritage, including reducing false alarms at airport security and detecting life-threatening illness. 

The news of the partnership comes shortly after Professor Olivo was announced as one of eight new Chairs of Emerging Technology, a position bestowed by the Royal Academy of Engineering to advance emerging technologies and support the work of world-leading engineers.

Prosperity Partnerships support existing strategic, research-based collaborations between business and universities to deliver societal and economic impact. The five-year partnerships announced this week are supported with almost £18 million government funding, nearly £18 million from industry partners and £4 million from universities.

To date, 29 partnerships have received £195 million from the Government, industry and universities.