Innovate UK awards Novosound highest grade for KTP work with UWS

Innovate UK awards Novosound highest grade for KTP work with UWS

Novosound’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has been awarded the highest possible grade by Innovate UK.

Driving Innovation

Aimed at driving innovation through collaboration, KTPs link UK businesses with an academic partner and a graduate to drive growth and enhance their commercial offering. By harnessing the latest academic knowledge, technology and skills, business can improve their processes and performance, enhancing their overall competitiveness and productivity. KTP projects address a specific, strategic innovation, which is identified by the company.

Career Progression

Novosound worked with Mhairi Rogan, a KTP associate, and several academics from UWS’s Institute of Thin-films, Sensors and Imaging (ITFSI) to develop and enhance the performance of novosound’s patented thin-film, ultrasound technology. Mhairi was supported by Dr Dave Hughes, novosound’s Founder & CEO and Dr Kevin McAughey, Lead Physicist, who also contributed to the project. Following her successful work throughout the KTP program, Mhairi is now employed full-time at novosound as a Thin-Films Process Scientist.

NDT Product Enhanced Performance

Mhairi’s work alongside UWS has helped to enhance the performance of Novosound’s Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) products which are targeted at a number of markets including Oil & Gas, Energy, Aerospace, Dental and Medical Imaging. Designed to simplify complex inspections and increase the efficiency of condition monitoring, Novosound’s NDT products – the Kelpie and Belenus – eliminate many of the existing challenges faced by the NDT market.

Commenting on the KTP award, Mhairi said:

“I am delighted that the hard work, expertise and progress made by Novosound and UWS has been recognised with the highest grade from Innovative UK. Through the KTP scheme, I have been able to accelerate my career through working closely with Novosound’s world-class physics and engineering teams and the academic experts at ITFSI. The ability to study towards a higher degree and to apply these academic skills and knowledge whilst gaining exposure to industry has been extremely beneficial to me personally. It is very rewarding to see the real-world impact of our work and how it is helping customers solve challenging problems in the field of NDT. I am excited to see where the next part of the Novosound journey takes me!”

Dr Dave Hughes, CEO at Novosound and visiting professor at ITFSI, said:

“This KTP has been crucial in helping Novosound further develop and enhance the performance of our unique and innovative, thin-film ultrasound technology. Working with a world-class research facility such as The Institute of Thin-films, Sensors and Imaging, has enabled us to develop ground-breaking NDT products which offer simple and efficient inspections, potentially saving companies millions of dollars in downtime.

Being the first spin-out company to come out of UWS, I look forward to continuing working together with UWS to deliver high-quality projects and fulfil new and exciting commercial opportunities for Novosound’s NDT technology.”

Professor Des Gibson, Director of ITFSI at UWS and lead academic on the project, added:

“Our work with Novosound is a shining example of what can be achieved when industry and academia come together.

“While KTPs have obvious advantages for business, it’s a great opportunity for our academics too. For the Institute of Thin Films, Sensors and Imaging, this project gave us the chance to put our skills and knowledge into practice and see the real-world impact of our work. I look forward to seeing what more we can achieve together going forward.”