The NDE Research Association (NDEvR) is a not-for-profit company established in 2007 to represent the industrial members of RCNDE and handle the financial and commercial support for RCNDE. It is the legal and commercial arm of RCNDE and the entity that continuously collaborates with EPSRC in developing programmes and funding activities related to NDE.

Eligible universities become RCNDE members by signing the Membership Agreement. Eligibility is established by a university having a PI or Co-I in a funded Core project, or a PI in a funded Targeted project, provided it funds at least one researcher-year at that university in the year in question. There is also a period of continued eligibility for up to two years after such a project finishes to allow stability within the RCNDE Board.

Initial engagement by a non-member university can be by applying to attend the RCNDE Annual Review, which is possible provided a non-disclosure agreement is signed in advance. For more information on how to become an RCNDE university please contact rcndeinfo@ndevr.org.uk.

Joining RCNDE is simple and can be managed in a way that is beneficial to you, depending on your needs and current circumstances. We have three membership types for industrial companies: Tier 1 membership, Tier 2 membership, and associate membership. Benefits include priority access to emerging technologies, access to world-class knowledge and next-generation talent, value-for-money shared research funding and networking and collaboration opportunities.

We welcome initial exploratory enquiries without any obligation to proceed, and all enquiries will be treated confidentially. For more information, visit our How to join page.

RCNDE has had an associated Centre for Doctoral Training in NDE since 2005 (GR/T18783/01, EP/I017704/1) and it now collaborates with the CDT in Quantitative NDE (EP/L015587/1), currently in its final year and not taking any more students, and with the newest FIND CDT (EP/S023275/1), the 4th iteration of a CDT with an NDE remit, currently in its fourth year. 

All these CDTs have matched students with industrial companies in order to replenish skills in key sectors of UK industry by training the next generation of NDE engineers and scientists in adventurous research and by improving technology and skills transfer. Many of the CDT students are Engineering Doctorates (EngDs) and, as such, they spend a substantial part of their studies with their hosting company engaged in researching real-world engineering requirements.  

The sponsoring companies are part of the RCNDE industrial membership and both Full members and Associate members can sponsor and host EngDs. 

For more information on how you can host an EngD student or on how to apply for a studentship, please visit the FIND CDT website.