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Research on vapour growth of semiconductor compounds led to a key breakthrough in growing large crystals which form the basis for sensitive X-and gamma-ray detectors. The process was commercialised by a Durham University spin-out company, Kromek Ltd., which floated on AIM at £55M and has over 100 employees in the UK and USA. The X-ray detectors are in use in Kromek's security systems for screening liquids at airports, significantly reducing restrictions on duty free goods. This application won the $400,000 international prize in the 2009 Global Security Challenge. The company also markets gamma-ray detectors for nuclear isotope identification. These have won contracts totalling $7.5M from the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency and are in use at Fukushima.
Research at Kingston University into the use of flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) to manufacture metal oxide nanoparticles has resulted in the creation of an industrial FSP nanoparticle production line. This achieves production rates an order of magnitude higher than was previously achievable, while allowing particle size to be controlled at the same scale as existing small FSP processes.
TECNAN, a Spanish SME, established in 2007, that manufactures and sells nanomaterials on the international market, has used this production line to produce a range of nanoparticles for commercial customers, for use in a wide range of applications. As well as allowing a broad product range to be offered, the production line also achieves a cost reduction of over 30% compared to previous manufacturing methods.
A manufacturing process developed by Bradford researchers has revolutionised the way endodontists perform root canal treatments. When coated with a hydrophilic polymer, the highly-filled hygroscopic material has enabled UK company DRFP to develop SmartPoint — a new endodontic technique that dramatically reduces failure rates of root canal treatments from 11-30% over five years to approximately 1%, and gives lower levels of post-operative pain when compared with conventional techniques. The technology has won three awards for innovation and DRFP has expanded significantly, with a dedicated production facility and sales team offering visits to dentists to demonstrate the benefits of the technology.
Durham Chemistry has a long history of research in cutting edge crystallographic methods and innovative instrument design which has led to the commercialisation of scientific apparatus and software with significant sales value. Durham-developed apparatus and crystallographic software are used globally by both industry and academia. Autochem2, for example, is sold exclusively to Agilent via the spin-out company OlexSys, and hundreds of researchers rely on Durham's contributions to the Topas software pacakge. Crystallographic research for pharmaceutical and other companies, research-based consultancy, commercial analytical services and provision of international PhD+ level training schools have led to further significant impact.
XeraCarb Ltd is a spin-out company formed in 2011 to exploit a class of ceramic composite materials co-invented by Jones. These materials were first devised in 2008 via a Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) Knowledge Transfer activity and developed from 2009 onwards through a series of UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD)-funded research projects. XeraCarb was spun out after the underpinning research won a national award in 2011 as the most promising UK materials system for commercialisation. The applications for XeraCarb's materials range from body- and vehicle-armour to kiln furniture and wear-resistant components. The company has attracted significant venture capital investment and is valued at over £1m. It has set up an independent production facility, has appointed employees, has been awarded a TSB grant, has materials undergoing trials in respect of a number of applications, and has delivered its first orders.
The warship Mary Rose served Henry VIII's navy for 34 years, including spells as the flagship. She sank while engaging the French navy in the Solent in 1545, and unsuccessful salvage bids meant the ship remained on the seabed for almost half a millennium. The University of Kent has been the central academic partner of the 30-year and £35 million Mary Rose salvage and conservation project. It received Heritage Lottery funds, which the University of Kent used to develop new conservation chemistry, underpinned by synchrotron studies. Kent researchers have subsequently taken up permanent employment with the Mary Rose Trust to implement this new technology. The Mary Rose exhibition opened at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in May 2013, is one of the most important additions to UK culture in recent times. The research at Kent was critical to this achievement, and the new chemical technology is subsequently finding new areas of 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.
Research undertaken in the University of Cambridge Department of Physics has provided benchmark data on, and fundamental physical insights into, the high strain-rate response of materials, including powdered reactive metal compositions. The data have been used widely by QinetiQ plc. to support numerical modelling and product development in important industrial and defence applications. One outcome has been the development of a reactive metal perforator for the oil industry which significantly outperforms conventional devices. These devices `perforate' the region around a bore-hole, thereby substantially enhancing recovery, particularly in more difficult oil fields, and extending their economic viability. Over a million perforators have been deployed since their introduction in 2007.
Graham Buckton's work at the UCL School of Pharmacy has involved the development of new techniques, which are now industry standards, for assessing the amorphous content of materials in inhalation products. This work has had a significant influence on both manufacturing quality control and regulatory requirement, including informing FDA policy, to the effect that this type of assessment is now a requirement for licensing of powder inhalation medicines in the US and Europe. Benefits to drug companies include cost savings and more reliable production. Furthermore, the associated School of Pharmacy spin-out company, Pharmaterials, offers these assessments as a core part of its commercial activity, with a large client base of industrial partners who require such assessments for their inhalation and other products. The overall result of this work has been changes and improvements in the design, control and manufacture of inhalation products.
The nanobiotechnology research group at the University of Kent (Bruce et al.) has pioneered the ability to control, manipulate and commercially process magnetite nanoparticles. Two spinout companies, EryDel and Dietheva have been formed, with a €6 million venture capital grant, as a direct result of the Kent-led research. EryDel (in collaboration with Philips Healthcare) are exploiting the materials worldwide for drug delivery (Erydex), with US and European approval for Orphan drug designation given in 2013 for genetic diseases, and Diatheva are marketing the technology for forensic diagnostic kits. The predicted five-year revenue is €35 million with a potential market of €17 billion.