Similar case studies

REF impact found 44 Case Studies

Currently displayed text from case study:

Ilika plc: Driving Global Innovation in Next Generation Materials

Summary of the impact

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:

  • to form a partnership, worth around £4m, with Toyota in the development of battery materials for electric vehicles
  • to optimise new phase change memory materials now used by NXP in embedded memory applications, and
  • to create and sell a subsidiary, Altrika Ltd, that has provided cell-based skin regeneration therapies to 50 severe burn victims.

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Southampton

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural), Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Informing public understanding of nanoscience and materials for energy applications (CS5)

Summary of the impact

The School of Chemistry has a long track record of pioneering and innovative outreach activities aimed at stimulating public interest and understanding in chemistry research and its societal impact. During the period 2008-2013 it successfully communicated to a wide-ranging audience the significance of a series of "firsts" in the areas of nanoscience and materials for energy applications. Using YouTube, Royal Society Summer Science Exhibitions, roadshows and science festivals, this award-winning approach has engaged hundreds of thousands through digital media and thousands more face-to-face, raising public awareness, inspiring interest in science and delivering educational benefits for students and teachers alike.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Materials Engineering

Nanoforce Technology Ltd. Assists in the Development of Materials and Processes for Industry

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

Queen Mary, University of London

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Materials Engineering

C1 - The Founding of Argenta Discovery and Pulmagen Therapeutics

Summary of the impact

The growth and performance of Biofocus Galapagos Argenta (BGA) and Pulmagen Therapeutics (PT) are underpinned by research from the Imperial-based TeknoMed project that started in 1997. BGA was formed in 2010 through the acquisition of Argenta Discovery (AD) by Biofocus Galapagos for €16.5 million and is one of the world's largest drug discovery service organisations with 390 plus employees and turnover of €135 million [section 5, A]. PT was formed as a separate company to own the complete AD drug pipeline. It develops new medicines to treat asthma, cystic fibrosis and allergic diseases. In 2011 BGA signed agreements with PT for an initial £6million fee and with Genentech for £21.5million.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Other Chemical Sciences

15. Advanced Sorption Instruments for Powder Characterisation

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

Imperial College London

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)

Optimising materials interfaces: Supporting the growth of an SME

Summary of the impact

Since the mid-1990s, the Materials and Structures Research Group has been conducting research into materials-joining processes, including metal-ceramic joining for high-temperature applications. The group's research on metal-ceramic interfacial relationships and metal-ceramic joining subsequently assisted Cambridge-based C4 Carbides to optimise metal-to-diamond brazing and develop cutting tools with improved quality and longer lifetimes. Since 2010 the company has also [text removed for publication]

This continuing collaboration has helped C4 Carbides secure a TSB smart award and begin its strategic shift from niche SME to mainstream supplier.

Submitting Institution

University of Hertfordshire

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Inorganic Chemistry
Engineering: Materials Engineering

Economic impact through improved product and process development within Carron Phoenix.

Summary of the impact

Initial research into polymer nanocomposites and their formation took place at Strathclyde from 2000 - 2010. This was followed by a collaboration with the world's largest manufacturer of composite kitchen sinks, Carron Phoenix Limited, through a 6-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) which resulted in a successful new production process of its high-end synthetic granite kitchen sinks. This led to £4 million of capital investment in new production facilities at their Falkirk site, enabling the company to sustain its leading position in the designer kitchen sink market and retain its workforce of over 400 employees in central Scotland, including the 170 workers in the composite sink division in Falkirk. Within the REF period, the research has led to the manufacture and sale of in excess of one million kitchen sinks, generating sales revenue in excess of over £50M and supporting the UK economy.

Submitting Institution

University of Strathclyde

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

Creation of industrial products, processes and company growth from research on highly structured materials for gas adsorption and separation

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Bath on highly structured materials for adsorbing and separating gases has created business and economic impact via:

  • Inward investment of £2.5 million in a University spin-out small and medium enterprise (SME), n-psl (Nano-Porous Solutions Ltd), whose business is developing new products for energy efficient gas separation for environmental and medical applications. Turnover of the new company is now > £1 million pa and growing, and has created significant inward investment opportunities from the USA for two of n-psl's customers, Parker Hannifin Manufacturing and Ultra Electronics, in military and personnel protection applications.
  • Improvement to existing products of an established SME (MAST Carbon International Ltd). Industrial testing of a new process, co-invented by MAST and the University, which contains the improved products; the new process is for specific gas separation aimed at meeting legislative emission limits, creating healthier workplaces, and recovery and reuse of valuable resources.
  • Creation of 28 new jobs, 24 within n-psl and four within MAST, together with the enhanced security of three within Parker Hannifin Manufacturing in the UK and several others at MAST.

[Comment: Although beyond the cut-off date for impact achievement, as at 31 October 2013 n-psl had been acquired by the FTSE 100 listed international engineering group, IMI plc.]

Submitting Institution

University of Bath

Unit of Assessment

Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Chemical Engineering
Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Supercritical Fluids – Critical Pharmaceuticals Ltd (CS1)

Summary of the impact

The University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry has developed a novel method of incorporating thermally or chemically labile biologically active substances into polymers. This has been achieved by using supercritical carbon dioxide as a medium for the synthesis and modification of polymeric materials. The method has been employed as the basis for new drug-delivery devices whose viability in the healthcare sphere has been confirmed by patient trials. The spin-out company, Critical Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has delivered a range of economic benefits, including job creation, the securing of millions of pounds' worth of investment and a number of revenue-generating research collaborations.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
Engineering: Biomedical Engineering

1 Super-repellent surfaces by Plasmachemical techniques

Summary of the impact

Super-repellent surfaces created by plasmachemical techniques invented at Durham University have been exploited by P2i as the Ion-mask and Adiron brands and used to protect the surfaces of millions of products worldwide including: 3 million pairs of footwear (Timberland, Hi- Tec); 8 million mobile phones (Nokia, Motorola, Alcatel); 60% of the world's hearing aids (HLT, GN Resound); 55,000 feet of filter media (Porvair); and 100 million pipette tips (Eppendorf). This has earned P2i industry awards including the 2011 and 2012 International Business Award for "Most Innovative Company in Europe" and the "Global Business Excellence Award" 2012. The combined turnover of P2i since 2008 was ca. £20M, it received external investment of £31.75M and has created 115 new jobs. A DU IP-holding spin-out company, Surface Innovations, was purchased by P2i in 2010, and further applications of DU plasmachemical functionalization were commercialized by Dow Corning Plasma Solutions Ltd and exploited in-period.

Submitting Institution

University of Durham

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
Chemical Sciences: Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Engineering: Materials Engineering

Filter Impact Case Studies

Download Impact Case Studies