David Wright

Professor David Wright is a leading academic in the Department of Engineering at the University of Exeter, where he holds the Chair in Electronic and Computer Engineering. He leads major research initiatives in advanced memory and photonic computing technologies and is deeply involved in national and international research strategy.

His research focuses on the development of next-generation non-volatile memory devices and active optical metasurfaces, with recent emphasis on neuromorphic computing, in-memory logic, and chalcogenide phase-change materials for applications in LIDAR, multispectral imaging, and optical computing. His work bridges electronics, materials science, photonics, and artificial intelligence.

Professor Wright has led high-impact projects such as the €4 million H2020 Fun-COMP initiative and the EPSRC APT-NuCOM project, collaborating with institutions like Oxford, Muenster, IBM, IMEC, and Microsoft. He is Co-Director of Exeter’s Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials and leads the Nano Engineering Science and Technology Group.

He is a Fellow of the IET, has published over 350 papers, holds multiple patents, and has successfully supervised over 50 PhD students. His strategic leadership extends to EU and UK government-level reviews of nanoelectronics programs, including ENIAC and ARTEMIS JTIs.

Professor Wright maintains extensive collaborations with global electronics firms such as IBM, Micron, Philips, Sony, and Panasonic, as well as emerging companies like PragmatIC and Bodle Technologies. His work also engages with defense and security sectors.

• Fellow of the IET

He has supervised over 50 PhD students to completion and leads a vibrant research group focused on future computing paradigms. His projects are supported by substantial grants from the EU, EPSRC, and industrial partners. He plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of metamaterials and photonic computing through international collaborations, including a major Centre-to-Centre partnership between Exeter and NSF-funded US centers.

Professor Wright is a key figure in Exeter’s Centre for Metamaterials Research & Innovation (CMRI) and contributes to the development of integrated photonic systems for AI, such as in the PHOENICS project. His team explores novel materials and device architectures to enable ultra-fast, low-power computing solutions.