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2. THz detection from the distant universe to the international market

Summary of the impact

Research and Development activity at Cardiff University's Astronomy Instrumentation Group (AIG) has been commercialised and made available to the international market. Sales have been made to fields including bio-molecular spectroscopy for health science, plasma fusion diagnostics for sustainable energy, and remote atmospheric sensing. This has resulted in economic impact through:

  • revenue generated by the Group's spin-out company, QMCI Ltd., which has demonstrated increased global sales of unique AIG technology through commercialisation of the latest THz detection systems and advancing product development and performance;
  • exploitation by third parties in the alternative energy and security markets.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences
Technology: Communications Technologies

1. Discovery and development of the world’s most powerful antiviral agent against shingles.

Summary of the impact

A new family of antiviral agents, bicyclic nucleoside analogues (BCNAs), discovered in Cardiff University has led to a highly potent anti-VZV (shingles) molecule, FV-100. On a worldwide basis more than two million patients are affected by shingles annually. FV-100 has successfully completed Phase II clinical trials, showing it is safe, potent and effective and with clinical advantages over the current standard of care. FV-100 has received more than $30 million in R&D investment, generating patents and creating highly skilled jobs in the UK and the USA, with the parent company currently valued at $397 million. It will enter registration trials in late 2013.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Organic Chemistry
Medical and Health Sciences: Medical Microbiology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Realising the potential of 3D scanners through reverse engineering and digital shape reconstruction

Summary of the impact

3D scanning technology has enabled multiple opportunities for innovation in diverse areas such as manufacturing, design, and the arts. However, full utilisation of this technology requires not just the scanning hardware, but accompanying software that can build meaningful, editable models. This development has been pioneered by research conducted in the School of Computer Science and Informatics, at Cardiff University. Innovative algorithms for reverse engineering and digital shape reconstruction were devised that enabled the reconstruction of complex computer aided design (CAD) models from data captured by 3D scanners. The algorithms have been endorsed by Geomagic Inc, a market leading American software corporation (recently acquired by 3D Systems), that has subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and global distributors, and incorporated into their software product suite. This is accessed by nearly 10,000 licensed users worldwide, who have applied the product for industrial applications including aerospace and automotive engineering, product design, cultural heritage preservation, and healthcare. Accordingly, the impacts claimed are twofold: a) economic gain manifesting in the benefits to Geomagic and a plethora of end users who have utilised the software, b) impact on practitioners and professional services in diverse domains.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Applied Mathematics
Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Computation Theory and Mathematics

4. Low-Carbon Engine Design Through Integrated Computer Simulation-Validation

Summary of the impact

Cardiff University's research has provided quantitative characterisation of transient fuel sprays under engine condition for the first time. This has enabled integrated design optimisation of Gasoline Direct injection (GDi) engines, through computer simulation validated by Cardiff's experimental measurements. The method has been developed and used in collaboration with Ricardo, a world-leading engine design consultancy, and has resulted in:

Economic impact

  • Ten contracts, generating Ricardo revenue of over £20M from major OEMs worldwide (including Ford, GM, SAIC, Proton and Chrysler);
  • An additional $7M Ricardo contract secured with a major US manufacturer (2013);
  • Increased licence sales (over £1M/year sales worldwide) for commercial software `VECTIS';
  • A novel tri-fuel Spray-Guided Direct Injection (SGDI) production engine designed and developed on behalf of PETRONAS (Malaysia).

Environmental impact
There have been substantial reductions in global CO2 emissions. Prior to 2012, GDi engine production had resulted in over 20M tonnes CO2 reduction globally, including 10M tonnes across Europe. A global reduction of 10M tonnes/year is predicted by 2020. Gasoline engines designed or developed by Ricardo in collaboration with Cardiff have provided a considerable contribution to this reduction. Cardiff's measurement techniques provided an essential step in designing these engines. For example, the PETRONAS engine uses 20% less fuel and produces 80% less NOx.

Improved Professional Engineering Practice
Cardiff's experimental validation methodology has enabled Ricardo to design engines through simulation rather than step-wise empirical development, significantly reducing lead time.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering

1. Understanding the properties of caprocks to improve hydrocarbon

Summary of the impact

Economic gains by oil and gas companies, improvements in professional practice in hydrocarbon exploration, and environmental benefits from identifying CO2 disposal sites have been achieved through a Cardiff-led consortium with industry. Building on research carried out since 2004, ten of the largest oil companies in the World have contributed to and benefited from understanding how faulted caprocks behave under specific geological conditions. Research at Cardiff has shown which families of faults and fractures make caprocks highly permeable, thus improving Industry's ability to predict if caprocks are able to prevent oil and gas reaching the surface.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geology, Geophysics
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

2. Transforming quantitative prediction of molecular properties through software - Molpro

Summary of the impact

Research in quantum-mechanical methods, conducted at the School of Chemistry at Cardiff University, has resulted in the creation of an innovative software package called Molpro. Molpro provides the ability to calculate from first principles (ab initio) the properties of molecular matter. It is unique and differs from other quantum chemistry packages because, using local electron correlation methods, it significantly reduces the increase of the computational cost with molecular size. This means highly accurate computations can be performed for much larger molecules than with most other programs, and the screening of far wider libraries of potential new materials is enabled. Consequently, Molpro is extremely valuable to the global chemical and pharmaceutical industries and has been endorsed and applied by major international corporations that manufacture products that are used by a wide range of industries (including cosmetics, automotive and construction). Examples are BASF, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Sasol and Nissan Chemical Industries.

The software is distributed under licence through Cardiff University and resellers, operating in China, Japan, Brazil, Taiwan, Russia, Poland and the USA. During the REF period, it has generated over £1.75M in revenue, and is used by over 650 organisations worldwide. Accordingly the impact claimed is extensive economic gain and impact on practitioners and professional services.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Chemistry

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Computer Software
Technology: Computer Hardware

1. Q Chip Ltd - Micro Technology for Injectable Therapeutics

Summary of the impact

Economic impact is claimed through the growth of the biopharmaceutical spin-out company Q Chip Ltd. During the REF period, this has created 19 new jobs, £7.5M investment, a new Dutch subsidiary (Q Chip BV), and staged-payment, six figure contract sales to four major international pharmaceutical companies.

Q Chip has generated over £928K in contract sales from the pharmaceutical industry from 2008-2012, with further sales of over £1M projected in 2013-14.

Originally established by Professor David Barrow in 2003 from his micro technology research, Q Chip has developed new processes and miniaturised equipment to encapsulate materials, including drugs, within uniform polymeric microspheres as injectable therapeutics.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Engineering: Interdisciplinary Engineering

2. Cardiff-led research underpins new UK and International clinical treatment guidelines for the management of acquired haemophilia A

Summary of the impact

A Cardiff researcher has led an International 15 year programme resulting in multiple novel findings which have led to changes in the recommended diagnosis and treatment of acquired haemophilia A (AHA). The research has, for the first time, allowed the comparison of immunosuppressive regimens for inhibitor eradication and comparison of the efficacy of treatment strategies to control bleeds. Studies led directly to the production of UK and International guidelines on the management of AHA with 14 of the 18 specific recommendations in the UK guideline being underpinned by Cardiff-led research.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Clinical Sciences, Public Health and Health Services

2. Platinum-Group Element mineral deposits: exploration, evaluation and beneficiation

Summary of the impact

Platinum Group Elements (PGE) are critical strategic metals because of their unrivalled applications in catalysts, fuel cells and electronics and cancer therapies. Research and analytical methods developed at Cardiff have impacted on exploration for new PGE deposits, and more efficient processing of PGE ores by international mining companies. A key milestone between 2009 and 2012 was the discovery of a 3 billion year old giant impact crater in West Greenland. This discovery is of major economic significance because all craters previously found in this size class are associated with multi-billion dollar mineral and/or hydrocarbon resources. It led to an intellectual property transaction worth CDN$ 2.1 million and discovery of nickel and PGE deposits in Greenland by North American Nickel Incorporated.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Geochemistry, Geology
Engineering: Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

1. The Antikythera Mechanism: seeing inside a two-thousand-year- old computer

Summary of the impact

Research led by the Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy has identified the world's earliest known astronomical calculator. The Antikythera Mechanism was discovered in 1900, in a Mediterranean shipwreck from the first century BC. However, its function and workings remained unclear until Cardiff University Astronomy Professor Mike Edmunds initiated and led an international research project. The results, showing that the mechanism was an astronomical calculator of extraordinary technical and mathematical sophistication, have revolutionised worldwide public understanding of key aspects of ancient Greek civilisation. Moreover, X-ray imaging technology specifically developed to analyse the mechanism, has generated approximately £15M turnover. The impacts are therefore extensive public engagement and significant economic gain.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Other Physical Sciences
Earth Sciences: Geophysics
Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

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