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REF impact found 22 Case Studies

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Techniques for precision high-frequency (RF to THz) characterization of electronic components, materials, and biological samples (Impact Case Study 2)

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Leeds, in partnership with the US company Agilent Technologies, has directly resulted in the development of high performance vector network analyzer instrumentation used by electronics, aerospace and defence companies globally to measure the high frequency properties of electronic devices and materials. University of Leeds research also directly resulted in the development of two further Agilent Technologies products — a high frequency dielectric probe kit and a capacitance scanning probe microscope. Agilent Technologies confirms that the collective sales of these products are in the region of tens of millions of dollars annually since 2008.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Technology: Communications Technologies

UltraCane and UltraBike: ultrasonic aids for visually-impaired people (Impact Case Study 3)

Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Leeds led to the development of UltraCane — an ultrasonic cane for people who are visually-impaired that gives tactile feedback to the user's hand with progressive non-contact warning of obstacles (ground-to-head) up to 4 m. [text removed for publication]. Testimonials from users describe its transformative nature on their quality of life, giving `a true feeling of independence', whilst healthcare professionals commend `the simplicity of operation and ease of use'. Furthermore, with a technology mimicking bat echolocation, the UltraCane has informed and engaged the wider public in science and engineering through, for example, the BBC `Miracles of Nature' series. The technology has also been developed to allow people who are visually-impaired to cycle independently and safely around a cycle track — the `UltraBike'.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies

Global sales of tomographic instruments benefiting process industries

Summary of the impact

Research into industrial process tomography has been performed at the University of Leeds from 1999 to the present day with much of this being in collaboration with Industrial Tomography Systems plc (ITS). This research, together with the associated intellectual property, has provided the foundation of 5 innovative new products developed and produced by ITS during the eligible period. These new products have generated sales of £5m and are in large part responsible for increases in turnover and employment of approximately 60%, and exports of 67% since 2008. These instruments are used in a significant number of new applications and are generating major benefits to end users in the oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, consumer products, minerals and food sectors.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Other Physical Sciences
Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Interdisciplinary Engineering

3. Practical Waveform Engineering - Reshaping Today's Communication Systems

Summary of the impact

Practical Waveform Engineering, developed at Cardiff, is having a major impact on how modern- day microwave power amplifiers are designed, delivering real competitive advantages for global communications companies such as Nokia-Siemens-Networks and M/A-COM.

Economic impact is through reduced time-to-market and lower design costs, leading to high- performance power amplifier products. Examples include $40M revenue and employment of additional staff for M/A-Com, and the successful spin-off company Mesuro Ltd., generating revenue in excess of £2.5M.

Impact on practice is through successful demonstration of new device technologies and amplifier architectures, the introduction of PWE-based CAD models, and most significantly, the introduction of the "Cardiff Model" into mainstream simulation tools.

Environmental Impact is by improving the efficiency of power amplifiers and significantly reducing the carbon contribution of mobile communications systems, translating into savings of approximately £2.5M/year and a 17 kiloton reduction in CO2 emission for a typical EU network.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Applied Mathematics
Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics
Technology: Communications Technologies

Particle shape measurement: commercialisation and applications

Summary of the impact

Research into on-line control of crystallisation at the University of Leeds started in 2002 which led to a collaboration being formed with Malvern Instruments Ltd (MIL) in 2006 and subsequently to the development of a new type of instrument capable of measuring particle shape and shape- distribution. The instrument range, Morphologi, launched in 2007 has since generated sales for MIL of approximately £11 million since January 2008. The instrument is now operational within many industrial sectors and used e.g. to optimise process efficiency and enhance product quality. The success of this instrument has contributed to providing secure employment at MIL and to obtaining the "Queen's Awards for Enterprise: International Trade" in 2011.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering

Improving co-firing efficiency for sustainable biomass energy

Summary of the impact

Over the past 10 years there has been a massive expansion in biomass use for power generation, particularly in the UK and Europe. Research at the University of Leeds has been crucial in addressing many of the challenges inherent in moving from coal to biomass including milling, combustion characteristics, deposition and corrosion enabling adoption of biomass for power generation. The research has impacted: (1) company strategy and industry practice for the use of biomass and key technology choices; (2) society, health and environment via CO2 reduction and emission reduction; (3) national energy security through an increased fuel inventory; (4) UK Government and EU policy as expert members of advisory groups.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

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

Modern global telecom systems powered by technology from the University of Glasgow

Summary of the impact

Today's global telecom systems are powered by technology developed at the University of Glasgow. This technology has been utilised, endorsed and developed by a series of internationally successful companies, facilitating multimillion pound investment from across Europe and the USA for the companies.

Gemfire Europe acquired the University of Glasgow IP and technology and between 2008 and 2012 launched a range of `green' products with reduced power consumption. The company's revenues reached $12m annually and in 2013, Gemfire was one of the world's top five planar lightwave circuit companies. Gemfire was bought by Kaiam, one of the world's market-leading optical networking companies in April 2013, stimulating further innovation and investment in the production of high-speed components for the global data networking market.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Optical Physics
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies

The Robot Scientist

Summary of the impact

This impact case concerns the stimulation of public discourse, informing the awareness, attitudes and understanding of the public as to the potential for automating science, and the consequences that then arise regarding ethics, rights and the acquisition of knowledge. It also concerns debate among legal practitioners.

The Robot Scientist was the first system to fully automate the process of scientific investigation. This work showed that it was possible. The idea was immediately picked up by the popular press and covered worldwide (the fourth most significant discovery in 2009 according to TIME magazine, reported by TV, radio, national newspapers and magazines, and bloggers). It engaged the public in debate about AI, robotics, lab automation, and science.

Submitting Institution

Aberystwyth University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

Changing Early Childhood Education: Policy, Practice and Perceptions

Summary of the impact

This case study describes the impact of a sustained programme of research conducted over more than 10 years, which has changed conceptualisations of young children's abilities and needs, and shaped national and local provision from birth to five. The research has influenced early years policy, secondary legislation, professional standards and training, curriculum, and the daily experiences of babies, children and practitioners in every childcare setting in England. It has produced innovative resources to enhance multi-professional practice, and significantly contributed to the deployment of high-quality, interdisciplinary research findings to improve provision, stimulate debate and challenge conventional wisdom about children and childhood.

Submitting Institution

Manchester Metropolitan University

Unit of Assessment

Education

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy, Specialist Studies In Education

Novel laser products open up new markets for spin-out company Intense

Summary of the impact

High-power lasers developed at the University of Glasgow now lie at the heart of state-of-the-art technologies in the commercial printing, medical and defence markets. University of Glasgow spin-out company Intense has introduced more than 10 new diode laser products with superior brightness, longer lifetimes and increased reliability to these markets since 2008. [text removed for publication.] In 2011 Intense was bought by ORIX USA Corporate Finance Group for an undisclosed sum.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

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

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