STAFF and researchers at Huddersfield University have been recognised for their “enterprising spirit” working on projects with business.
The new award, pioneered by Vice-Chancellor Prof Bob Cryan, was presented during the university’s Research Festival.
Prof Cryan said: “A university and its researchers should be actively and productively engaged with society, industry and enterprise.
“I am especially glad, therefore, to inaugurate four staff-focused awards that are designed to celebrate, encourage and reward the enterprising spirit of our researchers.”
The Award for Early Stage Collaboration went to Dr Andrew Collett and Dr Nik Georgopoulos for a project with Fenay Bridge-based international healthcare company Paxman Coolers.
The Award for Sustained Collaboration went to the research team at IPOS – Innovative Physical Organic Solutions – for its collaboration with multi-national corporation Agilent Technologies. It was received by Dr Nick Powles and Dr Matt Stirling.
The award for Training or CPD Programme with an External Partner was made to health tutor Val Ely for her work coordinating the CPD provision for the National Health Service.
And the Award for Most Promising Opportunity was presented to Prof Gary Lucas for his development of new flow-imaging technology.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Stage Collaboration focuses on the best example of a project where nominees have worked with a partner for the first time and had the chance to develop a case study.
Paxman Coolers applied for a Kirklees Innovation Voucher during 2011 to work with biologists Dr Collett and Dr Georgopoulos to improve the performance of the company’s scalp coolers, used by cancer sufferers to minimise hair loss during chemotherapy.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Sustained Collaboration demonstrates how an initial collaboration led to an externally co-funded project.
IPOS has special expertise in the analytical chemistry technique of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry and it regularly works closely with Agilent to develop new technologies and methodologies.
The award for a Training or Continuing Professional Development Programme with an External Partner focuses upon the best example of a research-based CPD or training programme that was instigated and applied by a member of University staff.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Most Promising Opportunity featured the best example of the most promising research-based opportunity that focuses upon enterprise or Intellectual Property disclosure.
