- More than 200 professionals gathered at the University to celebrate Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
- Three awards were presented in recognition of outstanding collaborations and innovation
- Meanwhile, Aston is shortlisted in three categories at the forthcoming national Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards.
Aston University has celebrated its best Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects of the year.
On 14 October the University held its annual KTP showcase and awards event at its city centre campus.
Running for 10 years, the latest event attracted more than 200 professionals from across industry, academia and innovation.
It is held to recognise the impact KTPs are delivering for businesses, communities and the wider economy, while celebrating the achievements of Aston's growing knowledge transfer portfolio.
This year’s winners were Siva Sankari Sivakaminathan at law firm Harper James for best AI technologies, Simms Adu at Labskin who are developing lab-grown immune cells for science, health and engineering prize and Zeba Khadhijah at BCHC NHS for top management project.
Aston University is an award-winning and sector-leading provider of KTPs, supporting organisations to develop new products, services and processes while translating research into real-world impact. The event comes as the University celebrates being shortlisted in three categories at the forthcoming Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards.
Alongside recognition for its KTP team in the excellence in knowledge exchange support award, Professor Ben Clegg is shortlisted for academic excellence in innovation. Meanwhile a partnership involving Aston, the University of Cape Coast and Tropical Starch Company Limited is up nominated for the place-based innovation impact award for developing cleaner, off-grid solar-thermal drying methods for processing cassava in Ghana.
The support team nomination marks the third time in four years the University has been shortlisted in the category, having won the national award in 2023.
Professor Colin Grant, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:
"Aston University has a proud track record of translating research into innovation, growth and real-world impact. The projects recognised at this year's showcase demonstrate the power of collaboration between businesses, academics and associates, and the important role that Knowledge Transfer Partnerships play in turning new ideas into tangible outcomes.
"I am delighted that this success is also being recognised nationally through Aston's three nominations in the forthcoming Innovate UK KTP Awards. Together, they reflect the strength of Aston's partnerships and our commitment to supporting innovation-led growth across the region and beyond."
During the event guest speaker, Richard Lamb, programme manager for KTPs at Innovate UK, spoke about the important role the partnerships continue to play within the UK's innovation ecosystem and Aston University's longstanding contribution to the programme.