Designers to accelerate university tech transfer

The six universities taking part in the programme, Aberdeen, Cambridge, Leeds, Nottingham, University College London and York, won their places through a competitive entry process. Each has nominated four emerging technologies that will be supported by intensive design mentoring for 12 months.

The 24 technologies include products addressing chronic disease, crime and the environment. Among them are: Solar powered equipment to generate clean water and electricity; Crime-prediction software; Intelligent robotics to restore limb function in stroke victims; A comprehensive and accurate consumer food allergy testing kit; and next-generation MRI scanning technology.

David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, said the aim is marry the science base with design capability, to translate ideas into products and services that meet market needs. “Innovate for Universities is about combining both these elements early and smartly, so we commercialise our technologies around the needs of real people and create enduring new solutions and businesses.”

David Secher, Chairman of Unico, the UK professional body for commercialising research, said, “Until now, technology transfer offices have not routinely employed designers to help develop their ideas. Innovate for Universities will allow designers, through their strategic advice and ability to understand user needs, to enhance the economic and social impact derived from translating research into public benefit.”

Innovate for Universities is based on a successful Design Council support service for high-tech start-ups, part of its national Designing Demand business programme. It has proved that when designers are involved at the early stages of science and technology-based product development, commercial propositions that meet a market need emerge more rapidly.