Pushing the Boundaries of Innovation
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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council INNOVATION SPECIAL 18 Pushing the boundaries of innovation Spark to a flame – meet the research entrepreneurs EPSRC’s crucial partnerships – working with business Joe McGeehan – godfather of mobile communications Professor Chris Toumazou: European Inventor of the Year Young guns – the doctoral students shaking up the business world EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts – early-stage research, big impact World’s most expensive material • Turning CO2 into plastic • Greener, leaner diesel • Solar arsenic buster CONTENTS 3-5: News Recent EPSRC investments 6-9: Things we’ve learned Research in action 14 10-21: People Meet the movers and shakers behind ground-breaking EPSRC- supported research and innovation 22-23: Going mobile Researchers are developing mobile phone-connected 7 HIV tests for South African communities hardest hit by the disease 24-25: Master maker 2014 European Inventor of the Year, Professor Chris Toumazou, on being an entrepreneur 40 26-31: Pushing the boundaries EPSRC’s CEO joins the dots between fundamental science and its translation into commercial and societal applications 32-35: Getting connected BT’s Jonathan Legh-Smith on working with EPSRC 36-37: Five stars The PhD students shaking up the business world 38-39: Miles ahead A fuel additive developed by EPSRC-supported researchers reduces Stagecoach’s bus fleet’s carbon emissions by 180,000-tonnes 40-47: Wireless wizard How a £9,600 EPSRC grant enabled Professor Joe McGeehan to start a wireless revolution 48-49: Chain reaction Professor 52 38 Charlotte Williams has found a way to turn waste CO2 into plastic 50-51: Earning curves The University of Southampton’s new startup incubator 52-53: Accelerating impact EPSRC’s ground-breaking Impact Acceleration Accounts 54-55: Gateway to success Professor Editor: Mark Mallett ([email protected]) To provide feedback on this magazine, and to subscribe to Andrew Rix on forming a spin-out company print and/or electronic versions of Pioneer, please e-mail Design: Angela Jones ([email protected]) [email protected] 56-57: Little wonders Ant behaviour Contributors: Dr David Crawford; Jo Enderby; James gives insights into brain function Pictures courtesy of thinkstock.com unless otherwise Franklin; Dr Ellie Gilvin; Florence Gschwend; Dr Susan stated. Graham; Jonathan Legh-Smith; Professor Joe McGeehan; 58: The bigger picture Graphene ink Professor Philip Nelson; Professor Andrew Nix; Richard shot wins EPSRC Photo Competition Tibenham; Professor Chris Toumazou; Dr Reuben Wilcock; Professor Charlotte Williams 59: About EPSRC Facts, stats and what [email protected] we do Contact: 01793 444305 PIONEER 18 Summer 2017 2 The magic of innovation EPSRC Chief Executive, Professor Philip Nelson, on the link between blue-skies research and its applications All scientists With these foundations in place, the persevered, and successfully applied and engineers magic starts to happen. That magic is to the Science Research Council have one thing the process and cycle of innovation. (SRC), the forerunner of EPSRC, for in common – This edition of Pioneer is a celebration funding that could help him crack curiosity. They of innovation in its many forms – from the conundrum. are driven by a diesel additive that has helped the In less than five years, that SRC grant, the need to Stagecoach bus company to reduce for £9,600, together with some key solve problems its fleet’s carbon emissions by 180,000 collaborations with business, enabled and overcome tonnes (pages 22-23), to using seaweed Joe to develop the core technology that challenges. But they are people, too; to help heal wounds (page15). The first makes all wireless communications they live in a world of selfies and story is an example of commissioned possible – from mobile phones to supermarkets, cybercrime and food research that uses underpinning Wi-Fi routers. banks. It stands to reason that they technology to solve a problem; the would be motivated as much by a One of the most effective ways to latter could be described as genius. desire to make the world a better maximise, and often accelerate, the place as they are to engage in Blue-skies research hardly ever impact of your research is through fundamental science. takes place in a vacuum; scientists collaborations with others. Many of and engineers are always looking to our initiatives focus on encouraging At the core of EPSRC’s philosophy see where their work takes them. this flow of ideas and resources, at and activity is a focus on encouraging Indeed, we have enshrined this in all stages of the innovation cycle (see imagination, and to ensuring that our grant application process, within pages 26-31). Our formal partnerships researchers have the resources they with over 3,000 UK and international need to both push the boundaries which we ask academics to describe the potential impact of their work. businesses are testament to the of science and to tackle real-world success of this approach. challenges. We do this through a host Some have criticised this approach of different initiatives and platforms as prescriptive – what if a theoretical In 2018, EPSRC will join forces with the (pages 26-31). physicist is pondering the nature of the other UK Research Councils, Innovate universe – how can he or she predict UK and Research England to form a Above all, we are investing in creativity, the impact of their work? new single body, UK Research and collaboration and exploration, brought Innovation (UKRI), which will have a about by fundamental research in the Well, we’re not looking for predictions, and we would never penalise strong focus on collaborative working. physical sciences, engineering, ICT We welcome the creation of this new and mathematics. researchers if their work fails to deliver a new product or technology. What we body, which embraces the very same Of the £800 million we invest each are looking for is what researchers do values we have been championing year in research and doctoral anyway, which is, in effect, to dream. for decades. training, we ensure that over half of Because all great innovations begin it goes to ‘blue-skies’ proposals from with a vision. And sometimes that researchers to conduct fundamental vision is, from the outset, pin sharp. science. The remainder is allocated to investments in key areas identified Take the case of Professor Joe by EPSRC and its network of advisers McGeehan (pages 40-47) who, in the “All great from business, academia, government early 1970s, knew that, with modest and the third sector as important to financial backing, he would be able national prosperity and to global health to find a way to transmit high quality innovations begin and security. These include real- speech and data across the airwaves. world challenges such as clean water, Senior colleagues told him he was with a vision” sustainable transport, energy storage, wasting his time, and no company or and supporting an ageing population. private investor would back him. But he PIONEER 18 Summer 2017 3 NEWS Recent EPSRC investments £100 million Rosalind £138 million for partnerships to drive prosperity Franklin Institute EPSRC is delivering two major names such as Siemens, BP and The UK government is investing investments in research partnerships Unilever as well as leading UK SMEs. £100 million to establish an innovative that will strengthen the links between EPSRC is investing £60 million in a new multidisciplinary science and technology the UK’s research base, industry and tranche of Impact Acceleration Accounts research centre to transform our business partners. (IAAs), awarded to 33 universities. understanding of disease and speed up A new initiative, Prosperity Partnerships, the development of new treatments. will receive £31 million of government IAAs speed the contribution that scientists make towards new innovation, Delivered and managed by EPSRC, the new funding from EPSRC and the Industrial Rosalind Franklin Institute (RFI) Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), successful businesses and the economic returns that benefit the UK. will bring together UK strengths in the while £36 million in cash or in-kind physical sciences, engineering and life contributions from industry partners and IAAs are complementary to other sciences to create a national centre of £11 million from universities’ funds will investment routes along the innovation excellence in technology development bring total investment to £78 million. cycle and aim to promote movement and innovation. Uniquely, the initial expression of interest between universities, business and other Industry partners will be on board from the stage is led by the main business partner, organisations. They are designed to outset, and the institute will grow over time, rather than the academic lead. support the very early stages of turning as more universities and researchers start research outputs into commercial Nineteen universities working with to participate. 21 industry partners will lead on projects propositions; improve engagement with ranging from the future networks for businesses, government and third sector; The new institute will have a hub based at digital infrastructure to offshore wind, and reach out to researchers who do not the Research Complex at Harwell that will and they will partner with businesses normally engage in exploitation activities; link to partner sites at the universities of operating in key areas of the innovation helping to drive culture change within Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and landscape. These include household the university. Oxford, Imperial College, King’s College London, and UCL. Robotics and AI get £17.3 million boost £8.6 million for gas-guzzling research EPSRC is investing £17.3 million in A new research programme that has Four interdisciplinary, multi-institute Robotics and Artificial Intelligence cross-Research Council and government consortia and seven topic-specific technologies to improve how we care support will look at new ways to projects will lead the £8.6 million for the sick and elderly, and deal with counteract global warming by removing programme, which will involve around hazardous environments.