RCUK and PraxisUnico are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2015 Impact Awards for Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (KEC) professionals.The Impact Awards reward and recognise knowledge exchange, technology transfer and commercialisation professionals who have excelled in enabling and facilitating the achievement of impact from the outcomes of research.
Established to highlight the valuable work and the vital contributions of KEC teams in turning excellent research into tangible, real-world benefits, The Impact Awards recognise this outstanding work in three categories; Contribution to Business, Contribution to Society and Outstanding KEC initiative. An overall winner will also be selected from the winners of each category.
The shortlist was announced on June 11, 2015, at the PraxisUnico Conference, held in Dublin.Winners will be announced at the Impact Awards 2015 ceremony in London on September 15, 2015.
The different finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Contribution to Business category
· Coventry University: “The Unipart-Coventry University Partnership”
· University of Leicester: “ASDEC (Advanced Structural Dynamics Evaluation Centre)”
· University of Strathclyde: “Cascade Technologies Ltd - from student spin-out to global success story”
Contribution to Society
· Aberystwyth University: “The fair and equitable use of Miscanthus (elephant grass) genetic resources in the energy sector through international treaty and influence on UK and EU”
· Public Health England: “Knowledge exchange on the frontline: responding to the Ebola outbreak”
· University of Strathclyde: “Portable Eye Examination Kit (PEEK)”
Outstanding KEC initiative category
· Cardiff Metropolitan University: “Knowledge Innovation Technical Exchange (KITE) benefits in the Welsh SME Food Sector”
· Isis Innovation Ltd: “Encouraging IP uptake for SMEs through the Oxford Isis Smart IP Scheme”
· Lancaster University and partners University of Liverpool and Inventya Ltd: “Centre for Global Eco-Innovation”
Jackie Hunter, RCUK Impact Champion, said: “It is wonderful that the teams and individuals whowork in knowledge exchange and commercialisation are to be honoured for their essential contribution to research. RCUK have always emphasised the importance of KEC to a healthy research community and will continue to provide our support in this area. Well done to all those nominated and good luck for the awards ceremony.”
Sue O'Hare, Chair at PraxisUnico, said: “Many congratulations to the shortlisted entrants and I look forward to the Impact Awards final in September. The standard of entries has been extremely high this year, demonstrating that these are not isolated examples of outstanding knowledge exchange and commercialisation; rather they are typical of activities that are taking place every day in universities and public sector research establishments around the UK and beyond - it is a great and exciting time to be part of the innovation industry."