The ultimate winners of each category will be announced at a special event in London on 7th September, and the competition will culminate on 17th November with a conference showcasing the winners and exploring key themes around collaboration and innovation.
Category: Energy, Efficiency & Sustainability
AgriRover
University of Strathclyde, Oxford Technologies Ltd, RAL space
Haptic arm system for the remote robotic monitoring of crops.
Atmospheric sampling over Ascension Island using UAVs
University of Bristol with the University of London, University of Birmingham, Royal Holloway University
The development and use of autonomous drones to collect high-altitude atmospheric samples.
Pile fuel storage ponds magnetic lifting system
James Fisher Nuclear with Sellafield Sites Ltd
Buoyancy-bag based magnetic lifting system for clearing radioactive waste at Sellafield’s pile fuel storage pond.
Willenhall energy storage system (WESS)
University of Sheffield with Aston University, University of Southampton, ABB, Toshiba, Sterling Power, Portastor, Western Power Distribution, Converter Technology & OpalRT
Collaborative research facility aimed at developing battery energy storage facilities for the National Grid.
Category: Health & Wellbeing
ADEPT – additive manufacture for design-led efficient patient treatment
Renishaw PLC wiyh PDR, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University, LPW Technology Ltd
Initiative aimed at enabling widespread use of 3D printing to produce bespoke implants.
PRaVDA: imaging with protons for improved cancer treatment
University of Lincoln with Universities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Surrey, Warwick, Cape Town, Karolinska University Hospital – Sweden, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and others.
Imaging and dosimetry system for enhanced delivery of proton therapy cancer treatments.
PIUCT – Phased Insensitive Ultrasound Computed Tomography
NPL with University Hospitals Bristol, North Bristol NHS Trust, Precision Acoustics Ltd & Designworks
Prototype clinical system for a new breast cancer screening technique.
Proteus
University of Edinburgh with Heriot-Watt University and University of Bath
Sensor technology for monitoring intensive care patients.
Category: Information, Data & Connectivity
Creating a novel infrastructure for Big Data management
National Instruments with Jaguar Land Rover
New data management system for JLR’s powertrain calibration and controls department.
ORCHID: The science of human-agent collectives
University of Southampton with University of Oxford, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton, BASE Systems, Rescue Global, Secure Meters
Project examining how humans and intelligent software can work together more effectively.
STRIVE (Simulation Tools for Rapid Innovation in Vehicle Engineering)
ValueChain.com with Bentley Motors, Virtual Engineering Centre, Optis Northern Europe, Optis Pristine & Northern Automotive Alliance
Development of virtual tools for automotive design and production.
Ultra-parallel visible light communications (UP-VLC)
University of Strathclyde with University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, University of St Andrews
Developments in the use of LEDs as the basis for a wireless communications infrastructure
Category: Safety & Security
Assessment of flood defence embankments using geophysics
Strathclyde University, East Ayrshire Council, West Dumbartonshire Council, Environment Agency, Highlands Council, Parsons Brinkerhoff
Project using improved innovative diagnostic techniques to non-invasively assess flood defences and embankments.
Crime, Policing and Citizenship (CPC) – space-time interactions of dynamic networks
Metropolitan Police Service with UCL
Developments in predictive policing technology.
The Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance with BAE, Thales, Babcock, Ministry of Defence
The design & manufacture of two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever built by the UK.
TRESURE TOOL
Hitachi, WS Atkins
Automated testing tool for railway signalling.
Category: The Built Environment
Designing safer buildings in case of fire
Imperial College London and Arup
New structural engineering design tool underpinned by advances in fire science.
Generating a tsunami in a lab
HR Wallingford and University College London
Laboratory based Tsunami generator.
Productive public spaces in urban Kenya
Engineers Without Borders UK, Kounkuey Design Initiative Kenya
Collaborative effort to improve conditions in one of Africa’s worst slums.
SPECIFIC innovation and knowledge centre
Swansea University, Tata Steel, NSG, BASF, Cardiff University
Innovation Centre aimed at exploiting the use of smart materials to turn buildings into power stations.
Category: Transportation
Babcock blue light simulator
Babcock International, Serious Games International, Motion Simulation Ltd
Collaborating to create first blue light simulator to have 200 degree wraparound screen and haptic feedback
Materials strategic partnership
EPSRC, Rolls Royce, University of Cambridge, University of Swansea, University of Birmingham.
Collaborative partnership aimed at producing new materials for jet engines.
Project M – An ultra-energy efficient city car
Shell, Geo Technology, Gordon Murray Design
The design and production of a new concept city car
Smart wheel for aircraft taxiing
University of Nottingham, Safran – Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
Electrically driven smart wheel for powering aircraft whilst taxiing
Category: Young Innovator
Sponsored by Renishaw
Nine Elms to Pimlico Bridge design project
Watford Grammar School for Boys, Hyder Consulting
Design concept for a new pedestrian-Cycle bridge across the Thames
Nuclear crane zoning system
Future Tech Studio, Sellafield
Automated system for controlling movement of crane used to deal with nuclear waste at Sellafield
Here’s what our judges had to say about this year’s shortlist:
“The UK has a long and proud history in engineering and it’s going to form an even greater part of our future. These awards encourage a flow of excellent ideas and examples, particularly showing how industry and academia are working together to create a profitable future for us all.”
Paul Stein – Director Research & Technology, Rolls Royce
“These awards illustrate the strength, breadth and depth of collaboration between academia and industry in engineering and the impact they have on society and the economy.”
Professor Tom Rodden - Deputy CEO, EPSRC
“A brilliant set of nominations. I particularly enjoyed those nominations where engineers were working with other professions and we could see how innovation was moving from one sector across into another sector”
Professor Iain Gray – Director of Aerospace, Cranfield University
“An astounding array of nominations, not only from across different industry sectors, but also universities across the country”
Linda Miller - Engineer & Project Manager, Bechtel
“Engineering remains key to our current and future prosperity in the UK and collaboration is the bedrock upon which we base this. It’s been great to see the breadth and depth of the nominations and collaboration coming to the fore”
Professor Andy Wright – Director Strategic Technology, BAE Systems Programmes and Support
“Engineering is key to a balanced economy in the UK and we can see that when you bring the best people in industry together with the best people in academia you get real inspiring innovations.”
Henriette Lyttle-Breukelaar – Marketing and Comms Directors, HVM Catapult
“It’s great to see a celebration of engineering achievement in the UK and we really should use this to promote and publicise the value of engineering in society”
Robert Morton – Vice President, European Sales & Marketing, National Instruments
“A celebration of the best of British industry.’
Margaret Wood MBE – Managing Director, ICW
“For me the value of the competition is in the collaboration. Using the strengths of different members of the teams to produce an outcome that is bigger than the sum of the parts is what it’s all about”
Dawn Bonfield – CEO, Women’s Engineering Society
"A Great selection of projects with innovative ideas demonstrated across a variety of categories, highlighting collaboration between academia and industry, in some instances solving problems we don't realise we are facing!"
John Halton – Director, Business & Industry, Engineering UK
Click here to find out more about Collaborate To Innovate (C2I), including how to become a sponsor.
Collaborate To Innovate is sponsored and supported by the following organisations:
Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd - Headline Sponsor
Frazer Nash Consultancy - Headline Sponsor
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