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Lynda Gratton has examined how the transformational forces of globalization and technology are changing the nature of work and how organizations can prepare for this transformation. This has been particularly infb02uential for multinational corporations that are seeking to become more innovative and productive in the face of the extraordinary transformation of their external context. Gratton's research has achieved substantial and far-reaching impact via her highly infb02uential books and practitioner-orientated articles; its signifb01cance is recognized by major prizes and awards from the business community; and it illustrates the use of specifb01c channels (Gratton's Hot Spots Movement; and The Future of Work Consortium) to convert academic research into real-world impact.
Collaboration between Leicester and Singapore's Workforce Development Agency has led to impacts underpinned by a 25-year history of research into skills, training and workforce development. The relationship has enabled the establishment of Singapore's first policy research centre designed to inform the government's workforce policy revaluation. Before the establishment of the Centre for Skills, Performance and Productivity Research (CSPPR), independent research in these areas was virtually non-existent in Singapore. Impacts include creating a new field of study in Singapore; contribution to government policy and direction in Singapore, and a resulting contribution to the well-being of the country's economy and society.
Implementing measures that can maintain, as well as improve air quality is a constant challenge faced by local authorities, especially in metropolitan cities. The AVERT, EPSRC/DTI link project, led by Samuel and Morrey of Oxford Brookes University, were tasked at identifying and proposing a new strategy to limit the amount of pollutants from vehicles dynamically using remote sensing and telematics. Firstly, it established the magnitude of real-world emission levels from modern passenger vehicles using a newly developed drive-cycle. Secondly, it demonstrated a broad framework and limitations for using existing on-board computer diagnostic systems (OBD) and remote sensing schemes for the identification of gross polluting vehicles. Finally, it provided a strategy for controlling the vehicle to meet air pollution requirements. The outcomes had direct impact on Government policy on "Cars of the Future", roadside emission monitoring, and the business strategies for both the Go-Ahead Group and Oxonica Ltd.
Analytical methods and nanotechnology developed and patented since 1994 by the University of Sunderland, for healthcare, forensic and environmental monitoring applications have been exploited for their commercial and healthcare benefits. The patents were out-licensed to a University spin-out company for the production of a `sniffer' device to detect raw material air contamination in a manufacturing environment. The proof of concept project resulted in significant commercial benefits, such as inward investment, new industry, specialist training, and >20 new jobs for a range of skilled workers, both in the UK and overseas, development of health and welfare protection, exploitation of technology to meet new industry regulations, and improved efficiency in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and products for household goods.
Newcastle University has a substantial background in researching novel control methods for electric motors. This case study concerns the impact that our work on sensorless control systems has had upon Dyson consumer products.
One of our sensorless control schemes has been adopted by Dyson for their vacuum cleaner drive systems offering benefits of ruggedness, flexibility and being inexpensive to implement, leading to reduced production costs and improved ergonomics derived from the ability to eliminate bulky sensor components and separate control electronics from the motor.
Dyson has invested £5M in a new production line for products using this sensorless control system which have production volumes of around 5 million units per annum. The Company estimates the cost savings accruing from the use of our designs at around £2M per annum.
Research at the Department of Engineering Science has led to step changes in the way industrial membrane filtration plants are designed and operated . Based on some key research results that have successfully tackled membrane fouling problems, the work has triggered rapid uptake of membrane-based technologies that are more energy-efficient than traditional processes. Water companies are among those achieving both economic and the environmental benefits, and the research has played a key role in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) market, which is now growing at over 10% a year, and in the global desalination market which exceeds US$19 billion, according to GMR Data (2012) [13].