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PolySNAP is an extensive commercial computer program developed at WestCHEM to process and classify large volumes of crystallographic and spectroscopic data. It is a market-leading product sold and supported by Bruker Corporation (a manufacturer of scientific instruments for molecular and materials research selling products world-wide) and is used in laboratories throughout the world supporting business in the pharmaceutical, materials, mining, geology, and polymer science sectors. The PolySNAP software was and continues to be sold in combination with all Bruker x-ray powder diffractometers.
XMaS is a dedicated materials science beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). It develops and disseminates novel instrumentation and sample environments that allow new experiments which support emerging technologies. By commercialising the intellectual property through licenses to companies economic impact is derived directly. Further economic impact is facilitated through knowledge transfer by trained people and expertise in new processes, which enhances the capability, capacity and efficiency of other central facilities. Public interest and awareness are engendered through individual research projects being highlighted in the media and through people's skills and experience being utilised in a broad range of sectors.
This case is primarily based on the economic benefit derived from commercialisation of intellectual property arising from our research programme in materials at the XMaS beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility at Grenoble. The company Huber Diffraktiontechnik GmbH and Co. KG have had direct commercial benefit from exploitation of instrumentation we have developed, in collaboration with Warwick University, to address the specific research challenges described below. A second, indirect, impact of XMaS is knowledge transfer through the career progression of trained specialists in positions at other large scale science facilities and in the private sector.
The unique application of combinatorial chemistry in materials science at Southampton has directly underpinned the success of University spin-out, Ilika Technologies. Since 2008, the breadth of applications of the research has allowed Ilika:
Between 2008 and 2012, Ilika enjoyed considerable growth, doubling employment to 35 staff, increasing turnover by approximately 25% annually, and floating on the AIM with a market capitalisation of £18.7 million.
This case study describes impact from the Newcastle-led research project to construct the world's first dedicated single-crystal diffraction synchrotron beamline for chemistry and materials science at Daresbury Laboratory Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS). The result was an innovative and productive facility that has served as the model for the development of other facilities internationally, especially at Diamond Light Source (UK) and the Advanced Light Source (USA). The original Newcastle University research has helped produce scientists now employed by industry and public service sectors around the world. Major new and beneficial drugs and catalysts have been developed with the aid of the synchrotron beamlines and work conducted at these facilities has been critically important for the advancement of the global chemical and pharmaceutical industries and US Government energy development programmes.
Radiation physicists at the University of Surrey developed a unique X-ray imaging technology for high-speed real-time tomography (RTT) during 1997 to 2005. The originating research developed new X-ray methods for tomographic imaging of multiphase flow in pipes. RTT was then applied to security X-ray imaging, specifically the high-speed screening of aircraft passenger baggage. As a direct result of the research, a spin-out company from the University, CXR Ltd, was formed, and it was later acquired by Rapiscan Systems.
Surrey's imaging technology is now approved for use for automated explosives detection in the European aviation sector. In 2009, a prototype high-speed baggage system was trialled at Manchester Airport, which resulted in certification in 2012. The research has made a significant economic impact by leading to technology that created jobs in a purpose-built factory.
Methods to improve control over thermally-induced solid state transformations have been developed in Huddersfield and applied to materials synthesis and materials characterisation. Impact is being felt by catalyst and adsorbent manufacturers, where feedback-controlled thermal and microwave methods allow improved control of morphology, surface area and porosity, and possibly the nature of surface sites. New thermal characterisation methods, some based on these principles, plus calorimetric adsorption, modulated differential calorimetric and high speed thermal methods, are being applied to catalytic/adsorbent materials. The information arising from these studies is bringing economic benefit to manufacturers. The same techniques are also being applied to pyrotechnic materials, in work which has been credited with making a significant contribution to defence research in the UK and overseas.
Prof Silver's research on the development of the technology to fabricate 3D electro-optic circuits via ink-jet and screen printing has provided a more sustainable solution to conventional back-lit posters (energy saving up to 75%) and printed displays. Due to the flexibility of the components (they can be printed in any shape or design) and low maintenance (battery operational), the technology has been commercially exploited by several industrial collaborators. Johnson Matthey have used Brunel research to gain knowledge of the market and supply chain, to sell silver and palladium nano-particles for ink-jet printing and to inform the investment of around £2M on R&D in this area. Intrinsiq Materials Ltd successfully marketed copper-based inks for ink-jet printing of ACEL displays, allowing the company to employ 22 additional staff. In addition, they have secured $4M of venture capital investment to develop the technology. Printed Electronics Ltd have secured £8.6M of investment to develop a high-volume supply chain for printed electronics, and have employed an additional 9 staff within the company. As a result of working with Brunel, Keeling and Walker have begun to sell ink that contains antimony-doped tin oxide nano-powders.
Novel vapour sorption experimental methods for the characterisation of complex particulate materials have been developed in the Department of Chemical Engineering. This research and expertise resulted in the creation of Surface Measurement Systems Limited (SMS), whose Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS) and Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) instruments are now found in >500 laboratories around the world. They are recognised standard research and development tools in the global pharmaceutical industry (DIN 66138). SMS has contributed >270 man-years of employment and generated £27M of turnover, whilst SMS instruments have generated over £300M of economic value, over the REF period.
Nanoforce Technology Ltd. is a spin-out company wholly owned by QMUL, active in the field of polymeric and ceramic materials. Bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications, Nanoforce has done business with over 100 companies since 2008, providing the key research expertise and specialist facilities to enable the development of new materials and commercial products, including Sugru® a room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber, Zelfo® a self-binding cellulose material, and BiotexTM a range of high-performance yarns, fabrics and pre- consolidated sheets based renewable resources such as PLA and natural flax fibres. Nanoforce has been promoting the development and commercialisation of spark plasma sintering (SPS) since 2006, which resulted in Kennametal recently opening the first commercial SPS facility in the UK to produce advanced ceramic armour. Nanoforce's clients have included large multi-nationals such as DSM, Dow Chemical, General Electric, SABIC, L'Oreal, Shell, Sibelco, governmental agencies such as Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and a large number of SME's.