The 24 new technologies include innovations addressing vital issues such as chronic disease, crime and the environment. Those from The University of Nottingham include:
• Solar thermo-chromic films being developed by Professor George Chen and his collaborators at Wuhan University, China, offer the potential to reduce a reliance on air conditioning by utilising unique window coatings that change colour in reaction to external temperature. Internal room temperatures can then be controlled without significant reduction in visible light transmission. The technology could be used in new builds or retrofitted to existing windows.
• Heartlight is a unique combined heart and breathing rate monitor currently in development by Dr Barrie Hayes-Gill and Professor John Crowe, of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and their teams. The platform sensor technology, which can be used on any part of the body, will potentially lead to new or improved monitoring products across a number of sectors including clinical, domestic, health & safety, sports & leisure and also veterinary. It could eventually replace the traditional stethoscope method of monitoring heart rate during childbirth, which is open to human error, interrupts resuscitation and can fail to detect sudden and serious changes to a baby’s medical condition.
• The Mixed Reality Lab within the School of Computer Science has developed a powerful Mixed Reality Architecture (MRA) system that can be utilised to enable geographically dispersed co-workers to interact as they would in a normal office environment. By joining spaces as opposed to individuals ad-hoc interactions can be supported as well as pre-organised meetings.
• A potential increase in food sensitivity and allergy in the population requires improved tests so that conditions can be detected and managed. Dr Marcus Alcocer of the School of Biosciences is developing a comprehensive new test system that will accurately and reliably profile any allergy across a large range of food groups from a single blood sample.
Dr Susan Huxtable, Director of Technology Transfer at The University of Nottingham, said: “We are very pleased to have won the opportunity to participate in this exciting initiative. We anticipate that the input to our projects from the design consultants will accelerate their development and significantly increase the potential for commercial success.”
David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, said: “In the UK we have a world-class science base with researchers working at the forefront of new thinking, plus an equally potent design capability with the skills to translate ideas into products and services that meet the needs of tomorrow’s consumer. Innovate for Universities is about combining both these elements early and smartly so we commercialise our technologies around the needs of real people and create enduring new solutions and businesses.”
David Secher, Chairman of Unico, the professional body for commercialising research, said: “Until now, technology transfer offices have not routinely employed designers to help develop their ideas. Innovate for Universities will allow designers, through their strategic advice and ability to understand user needs, to enhance the economic and social impact derived from translating research into public benefit.”
Lord Drayson, Minister for Innovation, said: “This exciting Design Council project will offer innovators in universities really practical advice to help bring their innovations to market.”
Innovate for Universities is based on a successful Design Council support service for high-tech start-ups that is part of its national Designing Demand business programme. It has proved that when designers are involved at the early stages of science and technology-based product development, commercial propositions that meet a market need emerge more rapidly. It is funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
Innovate for Universities will culminate in a showcase of the resulting innovations and products in June next year.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to RAE 2008, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranks the University 7th in the UK by research power. In 27 subject areas, the University features in the UK Top Ten, with 14 of those in the Top Five.
The University provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's “only truly global university”, it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation — School of Pharmacy), and was named ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence. The University of Nottingham is a partner in Nottingham: the Science City.