The Very Latest UK Innovations to be Celebrated at Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards

• Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards to be held online on 23rd September 2021.
• The awards celebrate the best of KTP’s three-way partnerships between business, academic/research teams and qualified graduates, designed to drive innovation for UK businesses and organisations.
• Speakers: CEOs of KTN, UK Research and Innovation, and Innovate UK.

Partnerships looking to address climate change and social issues, or improve the UK economy with bleeding-edge R&D and innovation, will be celebrated once again at the KTP Best of the Best Awards, held online on 23rd September 2021.

Among the finalists is St David’s Children’s Society with Cardiff University Business School who have together created a best practice model for the recruitment, preparation and support of adoptive parents. This has already led to the adoption of 23 children.

Also in contention is SureScreen Diagnostics and their potentially life-saving diagnostic device. Developed in partnership with the University of Nottingham it can rapidly and cost-effectively detect real-time blood alcohol content in patients who are too drunk to take a breathalyser-type test.

The ceremony, themed around the spirit of collaboration, will showcase the most innovative, impactful, and inspiring projects over the past 12 months.

Speaking at the event is Innovate UK’s new CEO Indro Mukerjee and Dame Ottoline Leyser, who was appointed CEO of UKRI last year.

Ottoline said: “Innovation is about connecting opportunities to add value with the means to realise them. This involves linking up the UK’s creative, innovative businesses with our exceptional research base. Bringing together the right people, ideas and infrastructures is the key to success, which is exactly what KTPs do. These awards are a wonderful celebration of what happens when the right connections are forged. I congratulate all the finalists and look forward to toasting their success.”

Dr Alicia Greated, CEO of KTN, the organisation which manages KTP for Innovate UK said: “The pandemic has thrust science and innovation into the limelight for the past year and a half, and now every vaccination delivered serves as a reminder that humanity can overcome huge challenges when we work together.

“Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are all about working together to solve challenges through innovation. For 46 years these important, symbiotic collaborations between academia, graduates and business have been responsible for creating countless solutions which help make our lives and society better, whilst strengthening our world-class research base and boosting economic growth.

“At KTN we are committed to shaping innovation communities of the future which is exactly what makes these awards so inspiring. Not only are our KTP winners actively bringing research into commercial business environments, but they are also bringing new ways of thinking, diverse experience and varied skill sets together to make a meaningful difference in building a sustainable economy and society.”

The Award categories are:

Best Knowledge Transfer Partnership

Finalists:

• Dr Blessing Mbipom, KTP Associate / University of Reading / GP-Update Red Whale
• Declan Bryans, KTP Associate / University of Strathclyde / Mersen UK Holytown
• Dr Yasin Kurmoo, KTP Associate / University of Nottingham / SureScreen Diagnostics

Engineering Excellence Award

Finalists:

• David Rowan, KTP Associate / University College London (UCL) / Biocatalysts Limited
• Fraser Stewart, KTP Associate / University of Strathclyde / JFD
• Mhairi Rogan, KTP Associate / University of the West of Scotland / Novosound

Business Impact Award

Finalists:

• Dr Carolin Struller, KTP Associate / Manchester Metropolitan University / Bobst Manchester Ltd
• Emanuele Scarabino, KTP Associate / Queen’s University Belfast / IG Masonry Support Systems
• Samashwin Paul, KTP Associate / University of Brighton / Family Law Partners

Societal Impact Award – supported by KTN

Finalists:

• Adam Nevin, KTP Associate / Loughborough University / Trelleborg
• Dr Blessing Mbipom, KTP Associate / University of Reading / GP-Update Red Whale
• Coralie Merchant, KTP Associate / Cardiff University / St David’s Children Society

Future Leader – supported by Ashorne Hill

Finalists:

• Adrián Rodríguez-Bazaga, KTP Associate / University of Cambridge / STORM Therapeutics
• Avinash Majji, KTP Associate / Cardiff Business School / WJEC CBAC Limited
• Barbara Pedo, KTP Associate / University of Huddersfield / Arcadis Consulting (UK) Limited
• Ben Roullie, KTP Associate / University of Derby / Bloc Graphics Limited
• Carla Resendiz Villasenor, KTP Associate / Teesside University / Norscot Joinery Ltd
• David Beattie, KTP Associate / The James Hutton Institute / Davidsons Animal Feeds
• Dimitar Marinov, KTP Associate / The University of Manchester / Madgex Limited
• Dr Huidong Wei, KTP Associate / Aston University / Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
• Dr Rachel Brown, KTP Associate /University of Stirling / Pulcea Ltd
• Konstantinos Tsitsilonis, KTP Associate / University Strathclyde / Datum Electronics Limited
• James Madge, KTP Associate / University of Essex / Preqin Limited
• Jonny Reader, KTP Associate / University of Nottingham / Hydrogarden Limited
• Justin McHenry, KTP Associate / Queen’s University Belfast / Vu.City
• Louis Williams, KTP Associate / University of Reading / Distribution Technology Limited
• Meghna De, KTP Associate / University of Nottingham / IXYS UK Westcode Limited
• Mohamad Saada, KTP Associate / Loughborough University / Millitec Food Systems Limited
• Dr Nadim Domun, KTP Associate / The University of Manchester / Inov8 Limited
• Natasha Lewis, KTP Associate / University of Glasgow / Cell Guidance Systems
• Olivia Greenhalgh , KTP Associate / Manchester Metropolitan University / Swellaway Limited
• Verity Moorhouse, KTP Associate / Cardiff Metropolitan University / So Modular

A final category, inspired by the late Dr David Woollard, a highly accomplished academic from Manchester Metropolitan University, will highlight inspiring stories of knowledge base support for an Associate or partnership.

For more details, and to register your place, visit here.