2022 marks the 75th Anniversary of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at Southampton. Originally founded in 1947 as the Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Radio Engineering within University College, Southampton, we have grown and developed world-leading research across a broad range of interrelated disciplines, with the name of the Department/School changing over time until we settled on Electronics and Computer Science in 1985.
ECS is now a large School of 250 staff and 2,400 students and as part of our 75th Anniversary there will be strategic investment including academic appointments, new laboratories and office space to facilitate our growth in new and existing areas of Computer Science research. The scale of investment is significant, and our ambition is to grow the number of academic staff in Computer Science by 50 percent.
Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) is renowned for offering a first-rate education in an exceptional research environment. Southampton is ranked first in the UK for Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Guardian University Guide 2021. We are first in the UK for the volume and quality of Electrical and Electronic Engineering research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, with 100 percent of our Computer Science research impact recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Research takes place in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment, organised across globally important research groups and national research centres. With over 550 researchers from many different subject backgrounds, the research culture in ECS is fast-changing and dynamic.
Our world-leading research centres combine research expertise across ECS, the University and industry.
The School’s facilities include the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, the Printed Electronics and Materials Laboratory, the Centre for Hybrid Biodevices, the Cyber Security Laboratory, the David Barron Computing Laboratory and the Arthur Brunnschweiler Teaching Laboratory.
The Future Worlds startup accelerator is hosted within ECS to help students and researchers change the world through their ideas. Since 2015, hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs have been supported, leading to the launch of startups in locations from Silicon Valley to Tanzania backed by millions of pounds of investment. The expert team and its extended network of seasoned founders, investors and millionaire entrepreneurs support founders at every academic stage from first year undergraduates to professors.
Established spinouts based on ECS research include AccelerComm supercharged wireless, Verso Biosense fertility sensors and Aura Vision AI powered in-store analytics. Student entrepreneurs have also launched BOON privacy-first online personalisation, Stardust secure personal data and CareIQ chronic care management.
