University College London (UCL) and the measurement technology company Horiba are deepening their collaboration in the field of emission-free drives. UCL has appointed Professor Thomas S. Miller as the first holder of the newly established "Horiba Chair of Advanced Propulsion Technologies" at the Faculty of Engineering. The appointment will take effect in September 2026. This was announced by the British Horiba subsidiary Horiba UK Limited, based in Northampton.
Horiba funds professorship and two doctoral positions
The chair is part of a partnership between UCL and Horiba, focusing on the decarbonisation of the transport sector. A focus is on battery and fuel cell electric vehicles. Horiba has committed to supporting a senior academic position and two doctoral positions in UCL's Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL). According to the partners, the goal is to develop new propulsion technologies and train engineers in this field.
The APL is located at UCL East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It combines expertise from chemical and mechanical engineering. According to UCL, the focus is on the high-precision measurement and validation of electrochemical propulsion systems under real conditions.
Miller researches fuel cells, electrolysers, and batteries
Miller is currently the director of the APL. He is a materials scientist and electrochemist with research focuses on electrochemical energy systems, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysers. He also co-leads the Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) at UCL and is deputy director of the university's Global Industrial Technology Cooperation Centre.
“The transition to net-zero transport depends on developing a much deeper understanding of how electrochemical systems behave under real operating conditions,” says Miller. The new role offers the opportunity to connect fundamental research with industry-relevant questions.
Horiba: Close cooperation between industry and science needed
Richard Carter, Managing Executive at Horiba UK, emphasizes the need for closer cooperation between industry and science. “Solving the complex challenges of transport decarbonisation requires closer collaboration between industry and science than ever before,” says Carter. Miller's appointment is a milestone for expanding this collaboration.
Angharad Milenkovic, Vice President (Advancement) at UCL, points to the importance of industrial support: Horiba's support shows how collaboration between industry and science can accelerate progress. Professor Eva Sorensen, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at UCL, adds that the appointment strengthens the university's position in sustainable mobility.
Background: Horiba as a provider of measurement technology
Horiba is a global provider of measurement and analysis technology with over 70 years of company history. According to its own information, the group is represented in 30 countries and regions. Application fields include the evaluation of mobility technologies—from engine emissions to alternative energy systems such as fuel cells and batteries—semiconductor technology, material characterization, life sciences, and environmental monitoring. Through supporting the chair, Horiba aims to further expand collaboration with science and industry.
