Awards celebrate power of partnerships

Cardiff University’s 21st Innovation and Impact (I&I) Awards will celebrate the power of four winning partnerships this June.

The projects have been chosen two weeks ahead of a gala awards evening, giving members of the public a fortnight to choose their favourite and vote for the ‘People’s Choice.’

The winning competitor will receive an iPad Mini. They will also be invited to meet the ‘People’s Choice’ team before the gala ceremony, and join them for the gala dinner on 3 June.

Voting is open from 16 May until midnight on 24 May 2019. Competition rules are available.  

The four finalists are:

Inventory forecasting in circular economic reverse supply chains for re-manufacturing

North Wales company Qioptiq worked closely with Cardiff Business School to devise a novel approach to remanufacturing and demand forecasting.

The world’s first integrated renewable energy/ ammonia-storage demonstrator

A Siemens-led project in collaboration with the School of Engineering, the UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council and Oxford University with funding from Innovate UK.

Developing Creative Cardiff – a Cardiff University-led network for the creative industries

The School of Journalism, Media and Culture’s Creative Economy Unit in collaboration with BBC Cymru Wales, Cardiff Council and Wales Millennium Centre.

Increasing awareness of the SIGNS of autism

The School of Psychology collaborated with the ASD National Development Team, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to develop signposting information.

Commenting on the finalists, Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, said: “This year’s winners are superb illustrations of ‘real world’ research that helps to change society and drive the knowledge economy. They highlight why we regularly rank in the Russell Group’s top 10 universities for IP income, and currently account for 97% of the IP income generated by Welsh universities.”

Matthew Smith, Head of Blake Morgan's Education sector said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the 21st Innovation and Impact Awards. Innovation is crucial for a thriving economy and a fair society. Universities hold the key to unlocking great research for the benefit of all. We are proud of our long association with Cardiff University and are delighted to continue to advise the University on some of its ground-breaking innovation projects."

Dr Julie Fyles, Director at Symbiosis IP Ltd said: “It is a privilege to sponsor Cardiff University’s 21st Innovation and Impact Awards. We work closely with the University and its early stage start-up companies, and see at first-hand the major role Cardiff plays in developing the knowledge economy and shaping wider society.”

The Innovation and Impact Awards are organised by the Cardiff University Innovation Network, which has promoted business-university interactions for over two decades.