The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Round 1 (Temporary Framework)

Results of Competition: The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Round 1 (Temporary Framework) Competition Code: 2006_COVID19_RECOVERY_INNOV_FUND_WAVE1

Total available funding is £75 million

Note: These proposals have succeeded in the assessment stage of this competition. All are subject to grant offer and conditions being met.

Participant organisation names

Project title

Proposed project costs

£100,695
Proposed project grant

£80,556

SENSORY DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY LTD

eScent mask for personal protective

assurance: a human-centred approach to PPE in the post COVID-19 world

ANCHORED IN LTD.

£17,235

£13,788

£80,598

THE IMAGINATION FACTORY LIMITED

£100,748

Note: you can see all Innovate UK-funded projects here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/innovate-uk-funded-projects

Use the Competition Code given above to search for this competition’s results

Funders Panel Date: 26/08/2020

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Project description - provided by applicants

The panic around coronavirus has resulted in global demand for masks. The trauma associated with COVID-19 has led to the deaths of many healthcare staff. Recent research published in Cell \[1\] suggests that SARs-CoV-2 infects cells of the respiratory tract with the nose being the dominant site from which lung infections begin. This opens new directions for future intranasal wearable therapeutic strategies that could reduce transmission of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses in the nose.

The challenge of the pandemic requires imaginative collaborations between disciplines and could benefit from an innovation that enhances the emotional and mental wellbeing of the population.

eScent is engineering a new movement in wearable, sustainable voice-activated scent dispensing. In partnership with IF/Anchored-IN, we are commercializing a product that seeks to calm people with a soothing aromatic atmosphere to boost the immune system, whilst improving on current protection provided by FPP3 masks.

The aim of this project is to take the current eScent dispenser (TR3) to an enhanced- mask demonstrator in relevant environments (TR6) so that it emits a safe and effective aroma whilst blocking SAR receptors as a novel answer to PPE for frontline workers.

eScent is a wearable pico-litre dosed delivery device that dispenses any liquid via sensors/app/voice-recognition software. It builds on 20 years of sensorinduced scent-release technology and textile research (Central Saint Martins/Cambridge University), projects with Philips, North Face, and support from Google, TransTech Labs. Protected by 5 patents, eScent unites sensing human emotion and dispensing counter-active wellbeing aromas to improve quality of life.

The psychological effect of our intervention should radically reduce the trauma of healthcare, transport, and emergency workers. Our route to market is via GENTEX Europe (NHS/Military PPE supplier), with interest expressed by the NIHR Brain MIC, and University of Cambridge Clinical School as a novel way to mitigate the psychological impact of the crisis. Although our idea is not an immediate solution, it is highly relevant for future coronavirus outbreaks. If an effective vaccine takes longer than expected, it is also valid for the current pandemic. The dispenser would deliver a cosmetically approved liquid (with safety data for skin/eyes) from inside a facemask/visor that nurses/receptionists/bus drivers or military wear as a deterrent/prevention "cloud" to curb the spread of viruses and reduce trauma.

Our technology establishes and maintains a localized "sphere" of detectible levels of scent (and other sprays) dependent upon user-context and/or the environment dispensed from a voice-sensitive wearable liquid dispenser. Future iterations will use mask data, ML technology to personalize treatment and care such that evidenced-based antivirals/aromas can be delivered once an AI system has detected an increase in stress (using voice analytics) or environmental changes. Scent delivery is triggered by vital signs from worn biometric sensors in a smartwatch (e.g. temperature, HRV, speech characteristics/commands, location, contextual data in hospitals/shops, public transport) and contained in "consumables" consisting of biocompostable/refillable capsules (circular economy).

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There is no mask that dispenses compounds in real-time to prevent COVID-19\. \[1\].Hou et al.,_SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Genetics Reveals a Variable Infection Gradient in the Respiratory Tract_,Cell 182,1--18,July,2020

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Participant organisation names Cynomi Ltd

Project title

£217,500

£174,000

WFH Cyber Risk Monitor

4

WFH Risk Monitor

5

Participant organisation names Visualist Technologies Ltd

Project title

£218,743

£174,994

Digital Not Digitised: The Creative's Virtual

Show

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We will research, design and develop a new communication system that helps creatives to showcase and transmit ideas more effectively and engagingly. Creatives are using the digital medium today to do fashion shows, makeup tutorials, cooking demonstrations, poetry readings and stand-up comedies. However, the videoconferencing experience has not been modernised to take into account how humans connect and communicate.

We will explore improvements to the video interface, and how video and voice communication _can_ and _should look like, feel like, and sound like._ Specifically, we will look at the creative worker, and their need to engage and interact with their audiences, as well as audiences' desire to interact with one another.

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Participant organisation names PARANIMO LIMITED

Project title

£107,094

£85,675

Supporting the Mental wellbeing of key

vulnerable groups whilst promoting sustainable economic recovery during Covid-19.

CARER SUPPORT WILTSHIRE

NATIONAL COUNSELLING SOCIETY LTD. THE DISABILITY UNION CIC
£0 £0 £0
£0 £0 £0

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Paranimo is a Mental Health technology company on a mission to: * Reduce the complexity of finding an appropriate UK Therapist using innovative matching technology. * Increase the accessibility to, and facilitate the delivery of, private online talking Therapy to vulnerable people with existing and emerging Mental Health issues. * Support the availability and employment of private Mental Health talking Therapists across the UK.

Covid-19 has had a detrimental impact on two key vulnerable groups: Disabled and their unpaid carers. Many disabled have been required to "shield" due to "clinically extremely vulnerable" (CEV) classification. 46% CEV adults have not left their homes since shielding began with 37% reporting a worsening of their mental health, rising to 68% if they have already been receiving Mental Health support. 40% of young unpaid carers and 59% of young adult unpaid carers say their Mental Health is worse since Covid-19\. These two groups need urgent help.

Mental Health Therapy delivery is particularly needed to address rising concerns faced by these groups presenting with: Attachment issues, Generalised Anxiety, Health Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, Stress, Complex loss and grief, Bereavement, Trauma, PTSD, Depression, Self-Harm, Abuse and Domestic Violence.

The demands and limitations of shielding/self-isolation have made it practically impossible to access traditional face to face therapy during these difficult times. The existing pathways for accessing private Mental Health Therapy and support are both complex and confusing. It is difficult for people seeking support with limited knowledge to judge the competence of Therapists, whether by Therapeutic approach, expertise, qualifications or professional memberships. This contributes stress and anxiety to existing distress. When combined with the limitations of location-based availability, the chance of finding an appropriate Therapist is dramatically reduced.

Private Mental Health Therapists experience professional challenges limiting opportunities to offer services to greater numbers of clients. Delivery is locationdependent with Therapists selected by convenience to the Client rather than by expertise. Many Therapists lack online marketing knowledge to differentiate their services, with Therapists listing similar expertise, rather than particular experience and strengths. There is currently no suitable comprehensive online transition model for Therapists during Covid-19\.

To solve these challenges, we are: * Working in partnership with the UK's first Disability Union, Carer Support Wiltshire and the National Counselling Society, ensuring we can meet the needs of these two vulnerable groups. * Creating an "all in one" Mental Health platform using a unique percentage matching system - simplifying the Therapist selection process for most vulnerable clients. * Increasing Therapists' reach across the UK leading to equality of regional distribution of Mental Health support, sustaining income during Covid-19\. * Building a secure and accessible Therapeutic environment delivered over video - location is never a hindrance to accessing the Mental Health support people need.

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* Therapists' qualifications are viewable, professional memberships verified. * Developing a Therapy credit model enabling external funding from charities and businesses to cover Therapy costs. The platform can reduce complexity, increase accessibility and delivery whilst promoting a more equitable distribution of Therapeutic expertise which supports the Mental Health needs of vulnerable disabled users and their unpaid carers.

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Participant organisation names

Project title

£174,521

£139,617

MELLIZYME BIOTECHNOLOGY LIMITED

Improving the production of a novel

enzyme for Polyethylene (PE) degradation

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The accumulation of plastics in the environment, especially in rivers and oceans, is a massive and well-known problem. Most of these plastics have purely alkyl chain backbones, which makes them recalcitrant to biodegradation. The aim of this project is to develop the high-level, secretory, recombinant production of an enzyme that we have discovered and patented and that can effect such a degradation, and to begin to scale up our process.

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Participant organisation names ASEPTIKA LIMITED

Project title

£218,652

£174,922

Active+me REMOTE RESPIRATORY

RECOVERY: Digitally delivered support for patients recovering from non-COVID-19 respiratory exacerbations in the postpandemic era.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£110,568 £170,510
£110,568

£136,408

WICKED MINDS LIMITED

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Aseptika Ltd, Wicked Minds Ltd and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working together to support patients in their recovery of noncoronavirus-related respiratory diseases such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. During the pandemic many traditional rehabilitation services have closed. **Active+me REMOTE** is a programme that uses connected monitors, a dedicated app and cloud services to provide a complete home recovery system (live exercise classes, exercise videos, remote monitoring, education, peer-to-peer support and dietary advice). Respiratory nurses and exercise coaches provide light-touch supervision for patients. This delivers an alternative to Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) classes and in-person Outpatient clinics.

One in five people in England has lung disease. Patients are often very tired and out of breath which stops them enjoying life. Many go to hospital when their symptoms get worse. This adds to the number of patients that the NHS cares for.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a treatment that helps people to get fitter, walk more, feel less breathless and tired and manage their worries about lung disease. This means they enjoy life more and are less likely to go to hospital. People are referred by their GP/practice nurse or after a hospital stay for lung disease.

At PR, patients get supervised exercise and education about their illness. It is usually a group course, twice a week for 6-8 weeks in community halls/clinics with up to 16 patients.

Since COVID-19 many patients and staff have been shielding and face-to-face PR classes have stopped. Respiratory specialists had to find ways to run PR at a distance, e.g. classes via the internet with patients exercising at home. Many online courses do not take as many patients as face-to-face classes because it is more difficult for the person running them to keep an eye on everyone. Also, some staff were re-assigned to other community healthcare roles and could not set up remote courses. This means the waiting lists are getting longer.

Even before COVID-19 we knew that one-third of patients referred to PR did not start the course. Two important reasons were not being able to get to a class or not liking groups. It is important to have something else to offer patients.

So, respiratory staff need ways to run PR where: 1. Patients do not need to attend a class, and 2. Staff can deliver PR at a distance to more patients.

**Active+me REMOTE** is a ready-to-go solution for this. PR services which cannot develop an online course can put it into practice straight away. It can also help where staff have set up online courses because it enables patients to keep track of their own health, with the support of PR staff, without needing face-to-face contact.

In this project we will pilot **Active+me REMOTE** to evaluate and improve its performance with both respiratory patients and pulmonary rehabilitation staff.

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The results will help us prepare for a larger regional pilot to make sure the benefits are at least as good as traditional PR.

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