Surrey secures £3.85m to deliver economic and social impact
Wednesday 11 March 2009
The University of Surrey has been awarded a £3.85m Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA) by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The bid, developed collaboratively by the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the University’s Research & Enterprise Department, will develop three innovation platforms, each with the potential to create transformational benefits for the UK economy and society. The platforms are: Communications and Signal Processing; Next Generation Materials and Characterisation; and Nanotechnology and Photonics.
The KTA will start on 01 October 2009. Over its three year duration Surrey’s EPSRC-funded research will drive increased engagement with industrial users and accelerate the exploitation of new technology. In addition NPL has developed well proven systems that will enable EPSRC and Surrey to monitor the impact and value the programme is delivering to the UK.
Professor Christopher Snowden, Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey, said: “We are absolutely delighted. This award affirms Surrey’s track record as a leading University for innovation and commercialisation. The KTA represents a fantastic opportunity to expand the already successful partnerships developed by the University and most importantly it will be of great benefit in helping create business opportunities in these difficult times. Surrey developed the strained quantum-well laser that is used in CD and DVD players world wide and NPL has also had a fantastic track record of transferring technology to industry. This major award will enable Surrey and NPL to work together to create more opportunities of this kind.”
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk