Gateways to knowledge A GUIDE TO SECTOR HUBS
Contents For further information please contact: Owen Adams Impact and Innovation Manager Research and Innovation Service Charles Thackrah Building 101 Clarendon Road Leeds LS2 9LJ T: +44 (0)113 34 30912 E: o.c.adams@leeds.ac.uk www.leeds.ac.uk/sectorhubs
Introduction 1. Cultural and Creative Industries 2. Digital Technologies Energy and Resources Cluster 3. Climate and Geohazard Services 4. Energy 5. Water 6. Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture Healthcare Cluster 7. Stratified Medicine 8. Medical Technologies 9. Health Services 10. Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical 11. Social Care 12. High Value Chemical Manufacture 13. Professional Services 14. Transport Systems
Introduction
As one of the largest research-intensive universities in the UK, Leeds engages in world-class research across an exceptionally diverse range of disciplines. This breadth of knowledge and expertise underpins our commitment to work with partners from all sectors, ensuring our research has direct economic and societal benefit. With the launch of this new guide I am delighted to be able to welcome you to find out more about working with us via our new ‘Sector Hub’ approach, focussing on fourteen industrial/commercial sectors. Supported by over £6M of investment, the Sector Hubs provide a more focussed and strategic approach to the way we work with industry and other external partners. They also enable us to address increasingly complex problems requiring multidisciplinary approaches that combine our major research strengths. The Hub approach is challenge driven, applying research excellence to issues of national and international importance. Above all it ensures our research is relevant to industry and external partners – because by collaborating we can focus on developing practical solutions to real needs based on world-class research. The Hubs are broad enough to encourage and stimulate genuine cross-sector development, working together to present a coordinated presence to partners and users, with shared intelligence and best practice. This model ensures dedicated innovation support is in place to match each sectors’ specific requirements, from academic lead and vision, to dedicated Business Development contacts with key account responsibility. We are committed to building productive relationships with Hub users and partners, using effective engagement and feedback to guide operational activity. Real impact and effective delivery through collaboration are fundamental to the success of the Sector Hub approach, and we look forward to working with you.
Professor David Hogg Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation
1. Cultural & Creative Industries Hub Director
Professor Graeme Gooday
Hub Deputy Director Professor Mick Wallis
Business Development Manager Sue Hayton
Host Faculties
Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts and Communications
About the sector
Cultural & Creative Industries Exchange is the sector Hub for the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts and Communications (PVAC). Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) are a large and diverse domain embracing the private, public and voluntary sectors. CCIs contributed 5.6% (£59 billion) of the UK’s Gross Value Added in 2008, exporting services worth £17.3 billion.
What we do
Our role is to broker mutually beneficial relationships between academics and industry partners. We provide research services for the development of new products and services for the sector, and opportunities for Knowledge Exchange activities through collaboration and sponsored postgraduate research for archives, museums, galleries, performance arts and corporate partners. We offer creative multi-disciplinary teams to inform policy and practice, consultancy services to SMEs and the public sector, student internships and placements and continuing professional development programmes for staff across the sector. The University is also home to some unique resources, including the Clothworkers’ Centenary Concert Hall, stage@leeds - the University’s public-licenced theatre complex featuring Stage One (a 180-seat main auditorium) and the Alec Clegg Studio (an 52-seat ‘black box’ studio) - the ULITA textiles archive and myriad exhibition and performance spaces.
Who we work with
Our role is to develop collaboration and partnerships with the cultural and creative industries, particularly as the sector rapidly evolves, for example through new digital platforms, knowledgebased business models and business innovation. This means that while we operate in the sphere of cultural and creative industries we are also keen to work with organisations and individuals from other sectors who wish to engage in creative activity.
Strong partnerships are already in place, including: ❱ Opera North through the DARE collaboration, a programme of over 100 projects, internships and placements resulting in new ways of engaging with and interpreting Opera for artists, academics and students. ❱ Leeds Museums and Galleries, City Varieties and Hyde Park Picture House - working with local communities on the AHRC Funded Legacies of War programme. ❱ The Centre for History and the Philosophy of Science at Leeds has partnerships with BT archives, the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and the Thackray Museum. ❱ Balbir Singh Dance Company is an associate company with the University of Leeds, exchanging ideas, facilities and knowledge in the fields of performance and cultural industries. ❱ Textile Centre of Excellence, Huddersfield exploring applications for textile innovations.
2. Digital Technologies Hub Academic Director
Professor Edmund Linfield
Hub Innovation Lead Dr Lee Mason
Who we work with
Our researchers are partnering with a wide variety of companies on projects ranging from early stage research through to highly applied development work. We are committed to expanding these relationships and to developing opportunities with new organisations with the potential to benefit from the research carried out into EPES and ICT at the University.
Host Faculty Engineering
Our broad range of expertise across a multitude of EPES and ICT areas has led to partnerships with companies from multiple sectors, including electronic device makers, automotive & aerospace manufacturers, public utilities and telecommunications companies.
About the sector
Organisations involved in recent projects include Rolls Royce, Hitachi, BT Openreach, National Grid and Ordinance survey.
The global market for digital technologies is fast-growing and dynamic, showing resilience in the face of the economic downturn. The global electronic products market has been estimated at $2 trillion, and the market for photonics products exceeds $600 billion. In terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) in the UK, IT and telecoms contribute £30.6 billion and £21.3 billion respectively; which is 4.9% of the total GVA. There are over 8,000 companies delivering ICT products and services in Yorkshire and Humber and 140,000+ across the UK. The UK has the second largest ICT sector in Europe, worth an estimated £81 billion.
What we do
The Digital Technologies Hub covers Electronics, Photonics and Electrical Systems (EPES) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Broadly speaking, EPES focuses on hardware components, while ICT focuses on software components together with their alignment with people and processes. EPES areas of particular research strength include microwave engineering; terahertz photonics and electronics; bionanoelectronics, quantum electronics; signal processing for communications; sensors and instrumentation; communications networks and systems; and functional electronic materials (including graphene and piezoelectric materials). ICT research interests include biosystems; computer vision; knowledge, representation and reasoning; medical imaging; natural language processing; algorithms and complexity; distributed and collaborative systems and services; scientific computation; visualisation and virtual reality. In addition to our research base a range of cutting edge facilities are also available including High Performance Computing (HPC), Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) as well as a class 100 nanotechnology clean room. We work with industry in a number of ways ❱ Collaborative research – we work with external partners to seek grant funding for applied research or development ❱ Contract research – examining specific issues for partners ❱ Intellectual Property licensing agreements - for innovative technology and software ❱ Secondments of University staff into companies
3. Climate and Geohazard Services Hub Director
Dr Richard Phillips
Hub Deputy Director
Professor Peter Knippertz
Project Manager
Ruth Lawford-Rolfe
Host Faculty Environment
About the sector
Climate and Geohazard Services (CGS) are defined as those services to society and business that are related to natural hazards, the atmosphere and its quality. There is considerable opportunity for impact and innovation in this sector and Leeds has critical-mass expertise, reaching from understanding global problems to monitoring their local impacts.
What we do
We produce first-class research in climate and natural hazards, mathematical modelling of risk, engineering solutions to mitigate risk and social science tools for maximising the impact and uptake of our research to additional end-user groups. CGS is an interdisciplinary cross-faculty group focused on climate, geohazards and their impact on society. Our role is to maximise the impact of our research by translating it into real benefits for end users in government, industry and nongovernmental organisations. At the same time our partners gain the opportunity to work with leading academic experts or multidisciplinary teams providing innovative research solutions for a wide range of applications. As a group we facilitate knowledge exchange by bringing researchers together with the user community. CGS also offers consultancy and bespoke training services.
Who we work with
In the public sector the CGS Hub has a formal collaborative partnership with the Met Office on climate, weather and air quality services. Activity with the private sector focuses on improving risk models within the insurance and reinsurance industries. We are part of the Willis Research Network and the Lighthill Risk Network. Within these sectors there is growing recognition that the latest academic developments in risk assessment and process understanding around natural hazards can provide competitive advantage, which Leeds is well placed to deliver.
4. Energy Hub Director
Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian
Hub Innovation Manager Kris Milkowski
Host Faculty Engineering
About the sector
Over the next ten years, global and European energy investments in the order of £4.3 trillion and over £1 trillion are needed, respectively, both to diversify existing resources and replace equipment and to cater for challenging and changing energy requirements. The UK’s sector is valued at £116 billion with almost 910,000 jobs. Moving to a green economy therefore presents huge opportunities for British businesses, not only to reduce their environmental impact, but also to transform products and services, develop cleaner technologies, and capture new international markets. The University of Leeds is in a unique and very strong position to be a major player to act as a catalyst to motivate and help industry innovate and deal with the associated technical challenges.
What we do
Energy at Leeds brings together multidisciplinary research and innovation expertise at the frontiers of energy and environmental research to work with regional, national, and international stakeholders in industry, academia and Government. Leeds expertise in the sector includes greening fossil fuel power generation, bioenergy, fundamental and applied combustion science and technology, renewables, petroleum exploration and production, smart grids, energy storage and greener transport. We also work with partners in developing supporting science and technology, including computational modelling capability; process and system optimisation; as well as policy and socio-technical assessment of energy technologies and systems. Leeds is directly involved in the UK Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Research Centre and heads the recently established Pilot-scale Advanced Capture Technology (PACT) facilities, bringing together leading expertise and comprehensive pilot-scale capability to catalyse industrial and academic development, deployment and commercialisation of CCS technologies. Leeds has significant strengths in CO2 geological storage as well as oil and gas exploration through the research activities at the Centre of integrated Petroleum and Geoscience and Engineering (CiPEG). Our work with external stakeholders includes collaborative and contract R&D, Consultancy and capacity building including extensive CPD programmes in Energy.
Who we work with
Energy at Leeds is delivering new ways of working in partnership, including: the establishment of a Regional Industrial Assessment Centre for Green Economy (RIAC); active membership of the Centre for Low Carbon Future Universities; establishing an Industrial Alliance Programme; Continuing Professional Development courses for industry partners; further developing the successful commercialisation of our intellectual capital. Energy at Leeds works with a wide range of stakeholders across the energy sector including large companies and SMEs, universities and government. Companies and organisations we have worked with include: Drax, Eon, SSE, Slipstream Energy, Alstom Power, Doosan Power Systems, Siemens, BOC, Tata steel, C-Capture, Gas de France, BP, Shell, Total, Statoil, Exxon, Petronas, Chevron, Halliburton, Rolls Royce, Airbus, GE Precision, Jaguar, Schlumberger, Arup, Yorkshire Water and GSK Reckit Benckiser.
5. Water Hub Director
Dr. Martin Tillotson
Hub Innovation Manager Louise Walker
Host Faculty Environment
About the sector
Water-associated industry has massive potential for innovation and research impact. Water infrastructure in the UK is of varying age and condition, but is worth over £250 billion, and the regulated water industry spends around £8 billion per year on capital and operating costs1. Activities include the provision of water for public consumption and for agriculture, industry and commerce; treatment of wastewater; pollution prevention; environmental protection; waste disposal; stormwater control; flood protection; coastal defence and hazard mitigation. The UK bottled water business is worth £1.5 billion per year. Energy costs are high: 3% of all UK energy use is by water utilities. Worldwide, it is estimated that water use for human purposes has multiplied six-fold over the past century, which is more than twice the rate of population growth2. Access to interdisciplinary and applied frontier research is of importance to the industry globally as it faces multiple and complex challenges of maintaining services under conditions of economic stress, population growth, demographic change, urbanisation and climate change, whilst continuing to meet consumer expectations.
What we do
Strategically, water is a priority area for the UK1 and the response of the University has been a commitment to water@leeds: a highly successful interdisciplinary research centre with an international reputation that continues to grow (www.wateratleeds.org). The Water Hub is part of, and builds on, this successful model by extending and diversifying its interests and impact to create a world leading centre for research and innovation. The Water Hub aligns the University’s research base with end user needs and market opportunities in the global water sector. We are increasing the leverage of public sector funds on water research, and are delivering impact by working closely with industry and other end users to track and measure benefit. We are diversifying our research capability to align with user needs, for example in water (including ‘virtual’ water) and resource consumption, and expanding our international influence in the commercial and manufacturing sectors. We also proactively engage in the development of high-growth R&D focussed SMEs operating in the international water sector.
Who we work with
water@leeds works internationally with industrial, government, charity and academic bodies. We use our vast array of technical, academic, modelling and monitoring skills embedded within our 150 water experts to engage in wide-ranging research and innovation, and supported by world class facilities such as the Sorby Environmental Dynamics laboratory. For example, we work on water supply in urban areas within emerging economies as part of a global strategic partnership with Arup, and we have strong links with the USA through our continuing work with the University of Illinois and the Prairie Research Institute. Nationally we have research partnerships with Yorkshire Water, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Met Office and have good relationships with other UK water companies, agencies, and research organisations such as UK Water Industry Research and trade bodies such as the Water Industry Forum. We work closely with, and have funding from, major government organisations such as World Bank, DfiD, Defra, Natural England, and with charities such as the RSPB, Esmee Fairburn Foundation and WWF. We currently have two Technology Strategy Board funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) with HydroLogic and Dinsdale Moorland Services and engage in consultancy with a wide range of businesses drawn from the environmental, food, agricultural, water and petrochemical sectors. As world leaders in many areas of water innovation we are very keen to work with partners to maximise the impact of our work and make a real difference to people’s lives. 1. Government Office for Science (2011) Taking Responsibility for Water. United Kingdom Water Research and Innovation Framework 2011-2030 2. Technology Strategy Board (2012) Water security. Competition for feasibility and collaborative R&D funding
6. Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture Hub Director
Professor Christine Foyer
Hub Innovation Manager Adam Getliff
Host Faculty
Biological Sciences
About the sector
The challenge of global food security in the 21st century is intrinsically connected to other global issues – climate change, population growth and the need to sustainably manage the rapidly growing demand for energy and water. There is a challenge to deliver nutritious, safe and affordable food to a population of over 9 billion using less land, fewer inputs, reduced waste and lower environmental impact.
What we do
The Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture Hub has been created to harness expertise across these important areas to enable more effective and closer working with industry and third sector partners, to drive innovation and knowledge exchange while stimulating new markets and growth. The Hub brings together experts in plant bioscience; including plant development. In environmental services, including integrated water resources management, ecosystems services and pest control. We also encompass waste reduction, packaging and storage, livestock agriculture, nutrition and food stability. By bringing together multi-disciplinary teams from across the University the Hub provides holistic and innovative solutions to real world issues, ensuring, for example, that the sociological challenges of implementing solutions are taken into account.
Who we work with
We have a track record of working with agri-businesses such as Syngenta, seed companies like Wherry & Sons and Limagrain Europe, farmers, supermarkets and other stakeholders in the food supply chain. We work closely with partners across Europe and sub-Saharan Africa to understand the challenges of food supply in the developed and developing world. We are also committed to developing an entrepreneurial spirit within young academics, and are developing an interdisciplinary Marie Curie site for PhD training in the area of Food Security. This provides our staff with a clear pathway to careers in industry, and a better understanding of working within the commercial world. The Hub operates by forming focussed interdisciplinary teams of academic expertise to respond to industry needs. We integrate R&D and skills development to establish an effective cycle of research and innovation that will deliver long-term economic and social benefits to the global economy.
7. Stratified Medicine Hub Director
Dr Ceri Williams
Academic Lead
Dr Darren Tomlinson
Innovation Manager Dr Alice MacGowan
Host Faculty
Medicine & Health
About the sector
Stratified medicine describes an approach in which specific clinical characteristics are used to predict therapeutic response, allowing delivery of the most effective and safe treatment pathway for patients. The use of biomarkers, for example, to stratify patients into disease sub-populations is a move away from an empirical, “one size fits all” prescribing practice; by identifying individuals most likely to respond to a certain medication, or those likely to suffer adverse drug reactions, patients can benefit from effective medicine at the earliest stage possible – this approach is often described as “right patient, right treatment, right time”. Whilst stratified medicine is, on the whole, still a relatively recent concept in clinical practice, the aspiration is to see this established as best practice in future years. Stratified medicine is emerging as a significant industrial sector, driven by the growth of molecular medicine and imaging technologies. The market sees the convergence of key players in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics industries and is predicted to reach $92 billion by 2016 (Kalorama Information).
What we do
Our aim is to support innovation in stratified medicine. The University of Leeds has strengths in many areas relevant to stratified medicine, including biomarker discovery, molecular target validation, imaging and genomics, as well as extensive expertise in clinical trials, health technologies assessment and health economics. The Hub acts as a gateway to enable external partners to access intellectual property, training and expertise, as well as the state-of-the-art research and tissue banking facilities available at the University of Leeds. Our team is experienced in working in industry and knowledge transfer, so we understand the needs of, as well as the challenges faced by, companies in this sector.
For researchers, we provide a sector-specific resource to help accelerate the translation of research towards commercial and clinical impact, helping to develop opportunities for licensing, consultancy and collaboration. We can also assist in access to funding, from proof-of-concept through to investment for development. Through our understanding of the research, industrial and regulatory landscapes, the Hub can support the development of novel drugs and diagnostics to bring stratified medicine to the patient.
Who we work with
Stratified medicine is recognised as a platform to deliver step changes in patient treatment by major UK stakeholders, including the Technology Strategy Board, Cancer Research UK and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The importance of this approach is also acknowledged globally. For example, the US FDA actively encourages the use of pharmacogenomics in demonstrating clinical validity and has issued guidance on companion diagnostics to help clarify the regulatory process. Maintaining awareness of current opinion and policy, and supporting our researchers in building networks with the key organisations, ensures that the University of Leeds is working at the forefront of the stratified medicine sector. We aim to work with key industrial partners, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as those working in the diagnostic, imaging and bioinformatics sectors, to facilitate their access to the University’s expertise in research and professional training. The University of Leeds has strong ties with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), which has one of the highest number of patients entering clinical trials in the UK. Working with clinicians from LTHT and other NHS Trusts enables us to evaluate clinical need and provides a strong partnership to underpin translational research for patient benefit. Within the University, we work with a multi-disciplinary group of researchers in medicine and health, life sciences, engineering, chemistry and digital technologies. As a result, we connect with the teams from the Medical Technologies, Health Services and Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Hubs to produce integrated and effective solutions in stratified medicine.
8. Medical Technologies Hub Director
Dr Ceri Williams
Academic Lead
Professor John Fisher
Innovation Managers Dr Leanne Burgin Dr Graeme Howling Mr Marcus Orton Dr Clare Green
Host Faculty Engineering
About the sector
The medical technology market is estimated to be worth £150-170 billion worldwide with growth rates forecast at 10% per annum over the next 5-6 years and a market size approaching £300 billion by 20151. The UK is recognised as a world leader in life sciences and the sector offers significant potential for high technology-led growth, driving growth and prosperity as well as stimulating improvements in healthcare delivery and meeting future challenges such as an aging population and obesity. The medical technology sector is growing rapidly in the UK with more than 3,000 companies the majority of which are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These employ 64,000 people and generate around £15 billion in turnover[2]. Around 25% of these UK based companies invest in R&D and 40% undertake manufacturing. The UK is a net exporter of medical technology with 25% all the European medical technology companies being based in the UK.
What we do
Medical Technologies develops medical devices and regenerative therapies that repair, regenerate and replace diseased or damaged tissues, to help the body restore function. We focus on translating the University’s unique capabilities and knowledge in: longer lasting joint replacements for the hip, knee and spine; regenerative biological scaffolds to replace damaged joint and heart tissue; the use of minimally manipulated stem cells for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular repair; novel protein biosensors to diagnose disease and monitor patients’ responses to treatment; improved imaging to allow early diagnosis and targeted treatment; and pre-clinical computational and experimental methods to enhance the safety and reliability of medical devices.
We provide a professionally-managed process for knowledge definition, innovation, Proof of Concept, collaborative development, evaluation and commercialisation of medical technologies. This is underpinned by clinical research, health economics, clinical trials and clinical adoption. We work with companies to help them understand and access the very latest research, develop opportunities for companies to invest in technologies that have been proven to offer commercial potential and also support companies to access independent, internationally-recognised methods to assess the performance of medical devices. Support for innovation can be provided through Proof of Concept awards that provide: ❱ Funding for staff to undertake specific activities to accelerate the commercial opportunity ❱ Support for intellectual property protection, exploitation or freedom to operate reviews ❱ Support for legal and professional costs including commercial business plan development and assessment of market size and reach ❱ Support for prototype development, manufacturing cost assessment and other key aspects required as part of validating a commercial investment decision ❱ Support to engage with commercial and investment partners that may have the capacity and potential to invest in a new product
Who we work with
We aim to work with key industrial partners that could benefit from accessing innovation right across the medical technology spectrum - from implantable devices through to regenerative therapies that can be enhanced with autologous stem cells. We focus on technologies that have viable and feasible routes to commercialisation and support these through an approach that reduces late failure and cost. Our experience has shown that reducing the risk and cost of new technology development requires short term preclinical simulations to predict long term clinical performance and outcome. This has to be conducted alongside continuous evaluation to assess key factors such as efficacy, safety, efficiency, health economics and clinical trials requirements in order to meet the regulatory requirements of the product. We have formed a strategic alliance with Regener8, the translational centre for medicine that brings together the work of the North’s top scientists and engineers with UK and international industry. This partnership has widened our reach to capabilities across the UK academic base but also brings a network of more than 160 companies and over 30 clinicians to help advance the development of tools and technologies to accelerate therapies through to clinic.
The Medical Technologies Hub is founded around Europe’s largest integrated multi-disciplinary medical engineering centre, the Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering providing access to more than 250 researchers working across 10 departments including biology, dentistry, engineering, chemistry and digital technologies. As a result, we connect with the teams from the Stratified Medicine, Health Services and Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Hubs. 1. T he Medical Device Market: United Kingdom, March 31st 2009, Espicom Business Intelligence. 2. H M Government “Strength and opportunity 2011”, Annual Update – December 2011
9. Health Services Hub Director
Dr Ceri Williams
Academic Lead
Professor Robbie Foy
Innovation Manager Alicia Ridout
Host Faculty
Medicine & Health
About the sector
Healthcare consumes 8% of GDP in the UK and EU, and as much as 18% of GDP in the US. The population is ageing, with predictions that those with a long term condition will consume 1.6% of GDP by 2032. People over 85 years old are the fastest growing group, with care costs predicted to rise to ÂŁ50 billion in the next twenty years. Local commissioners provide 80% of NHS care for primary, community and acute health needs and are increasingly working to integrate more services with social care and private providers. Patient choice, personalised healthcare, integration of public health and social care in local authorities in England and the need for economic recovery are all influencing health services evolution. New business models, such as social enterprises, are being introduced and innovative approaches to service design are needed to improve patient experiences and the quality of care while addressing shortfalls in funding. The integration of new technologies, practices and knowledge presents significant demands on resources and despite a wide range of networks and organisations having been set up to ease the transition of research findings into daily clinical practice, embedding evidence-based approaches consistently across populations remains elusive. The need to balance these factors with the changing demographics in the UK population requires innovative quality driven healthcare: Our ambition must be for an NHS defined by its commitment to innovation, demonstrated both in its support for research and its success in the rapid adoption and diffusion of the best, transformative, most innovative ideas, products, services and clinical practice. Innovation, Health & Wealth, Department of Health 2012
What we do
Our vision is to support consistent improvement in health outcomes and reduced health inequalities at international, national and local levels through the delivery of research excellence, optimising its impact in practice. To this end, we are forging robust strategic and tailored partnerships with those planning, designing and evaluating healthcare, building communications across stakeholder and academic groups. We aim to identify new knowledge, innovative products/practice and novel ways of working. We can facilitate both identification of clinical need through our patient-led innovation work and development of feasibility or early proof of concept studies. We also develop bespoke continuing professional development opportunities, which will equip sector staff in the future to meet the needs of people accessing healthcare. The Health Services Hub is focused on delivery of innovations in health information systems as a platform for improving the planning, delivery and safety aspects of patient care. Health information systems are rapidly evolving, as are capabilities for efficiently collecting and analysing data for research. The University of Leeds is well positioned, alongside partners such as the Yorkshire Centre for Health Informatics and the NHS Information Centre, to develop work around the use of existing data sets for patient benefit. The Hub team are supporting project development in patient involvement across the innovation pipeline, from research proposal development to implementation of impacts emerging from completed research.
Health Needs
Research in partnership
Who we work with
Our network covers Leeds, West Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as national and EU organisations that are involved in care and professional development. We work closely with research grant funders such as NIHR, regulatory bodies such as RCN and NICE, commissioners, NHS and private providers, patient involvement groups and third sector organisations that deliver and influence a wide range of NHS funded healthcare. Our academics are collaborating in clinical research networks regionally and nationally and are supporting innovative changes across the new commissioning landscape, influencing regional and national strategy and policy development. We are expanding our innovation network to encompass new partners, being responsive to changing need and adding value to the business of delivering improved patient outcomes across the private and public sector. The Health Services and the Social Care Hubs at the University are working collaboratively on a number of projects on integrated working themes and workforce development needs at the interfaces of care, especially for older and disabled people. The Health Services Hub is also a central point of contact for innovation support, linking up academics and exchanging ideas/contacts.
Adding value to care
10. Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Hub Director
Professor Adam Nelson
Hub Innovation Manager Kate Langton
Host Faculty
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
About the sector
High attrition rates in drug discovery (as high as 93-96%) are a major challenge, resulting in a current cost per launch of approximately ÂŁ1.8 billion1. The majority of these costs fall early in drug discovery because relatively few products proceed to launch. The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors are thus absolutely dependent on growing impact/innovation in early stage drug discovery to address this crippling attrition rate, and are increasingly willing to work in partnership with universities to achieve this. A reduction in the attrition rate by just 1% would revolutionise drug discovery.
What we do
The Hub facilitates effective academic engagement with industry across the sectors, for example through projects focused on: the delivery of biopharmaceuticals to intracellular targets; diagnosis and detection; and the development of support platforms for discovering/validating/developing new leads/targets. There are also selected opportunities to exploit distinctive research into fundamental biological mechanisms associated with disease and ageing. The Hub expands externally funded research programmes at Leeds through better alignment and collaboration with industry and other user needs. We work to exploit the intellectual property generated at Leeds for the benefit of the sector, through technology licensing, spin-out companies and partnership with external organisations, and we are growing the range and quality of researchers engaged in research and innovation activity across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors. The Hub ensures that fundamental research at Leeds is aligned to meet the medium- and long-term challenges faced by the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector, and provides a clear route for companies to access relevant, distinctive research and expertise through a single gateway.
Who we work with
We have had recent successful partnerships with over 30 companies from the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector – ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to instrument manufacturers. Our excellent track record on industrial collaboration provides companies with unique access to cutting edge research and expertise. Our coordinated programme management provides a facilitated route for industry to access outstanding expertise, tools and resources at the University of Leeds. This is complemented by a strong track record in enabling and delivering successful collaborative research with industry. 1. For reference, figure quoted is taken from: S. M. Paul, D. S. Mytelka, C. T. Dunwiddie, C. C. Persinger, B. H. Munos, S. R. Lindborg, and A. L. Schacht, Nature reviews. Drug discovery, 2010, 9, 203-14.
11. Social Care Hub Director
Professor Sue Yeandle
Hub Innovation Manager Catherine Holland
Host Faculty
Education, Social Sciences and Law
About the sector
The social care sector serves 2 million + users, and includes all the services and organisations whose aim is to help people overcome difficulties related to physical, mental, environmental or lifestyle problems at any stage in their lives. In 2010 the domiciliary care sector was worth £55 billion and is expected to reach £66 billion by 2015. The residential eldercare market was worth £10 billion in 2010 with further growth expected, and there is a growing market in assistive technologies, in which UK companies are key players. Employment in the sector is also growing (1.75m in 2009), dominated by small businesses, with most workers providing direct care and support. In 2010 the UK Commission for Employment and Skills identified ‘health and social work’ as one of the top four ‘job growth’ sectors in the economy. The sector faces seismic changes in the UK and across the world. Most nations have ageing populations and/or rising rates of disability/poor health. Together with intense pressures on public finances, rising consumer expectations and international trends towards business consolidation, path-breaking solutions to meet the rising need for social care are required.
What we do
Radical change in social care delivery, including personalisation, privatisation, and new assistive and medical technologies, is already sweeping the sector. Care providers need to respond to the changing needs and aspirations of citizens, with access to clear evidence of what does and does not work. Social care needs arise in all socio-economic groups, especially among the old, are most acute and prevalent in disadvantaged communities, and strongly associated with socio-economic deprivation – as well as cross-cut by inequalities associated with ethnicity, gender and disability. Labour (paid and unpaid) across the sector continues to rely heavily on women. These are all fields where Leeds has unique strengths/considerable external influence to build on.
Who we work with
The Hub draws together a critical mass of interdisciplinary, world-leading and policy-relevant research on social care, establishing Leeds as a unique and distinctive centre of excellence in the field. We capture and communicate the latest thinking on the future of social care, and make it accessible to external partners/clients in ways which meet their needs. We are fast becoming the first choice supplier for commissioners of research in the social care sector, enabling public, private and voluntary sector agencies across the sector to evaluate and plan their social care strategies and investments. We benefit from the diversity of our industry, engaging with providers of services, users of services and their families, commissioners, clinicians, carers and policy developers at local, national and international levels.
12. High Value Chemical Manufacture Hub Director
Professor Yulong Ding
Hub Innovation Director Dr Simon Lawson
Host Faculty Engineering
About the sector
High Value Chemical Manufacture is a diverse sector and includes for example; pharmaceutical manufacture, agrochemicals, effect chemicals, dyes, electronic chemicals, personal care/consumer care products, high value synthetic, bio-based polymers, biofuels, catalysts, energy materials and graphene. From SMEs to large international chemical and supply chain companies involved in the research, development, manufacture and sale of raw materials and formulated chemical and polymer products, the Hub is the University’s gateway to engaging with industry in this field. Key facts: ❱ Chemical and pharmaceutical businesses in the UK are a £60 billion industry ❱ Employs 214,000 people, a large proportion of whom are graduates ❱ 95,000 different chemical products sold globally ❱ Chemicals/pharmaceuticals represent 12% of total UK manufacturing (e.g. twice aerospace) ❱ Formulated products market in UK is £180 billion with £65 billion GVA (Source CIKTN) ❱ Cosmetics companies have more nanotechnology patents than any other sector
What we do
Leeds has a strong offer to industry partners across a number of areas, including: strategic and applied technology invention and development, chemical synthesis, catalysis, formulation and process R&D, processing and handling of particulate materials, material science and engineering, measurement and process control, reaction engineering, packaging, chemical and mechanical engineering, soft matter and condensed matter physics, applied mathematics, flow and rheology and nanomanufacturing, simulation and optimisation. It is clear that the open innovation model already advanced in some areas (e.g. in personal care and spreading rapidly through pharma) offers huge opportunities to those organisations able to align their offerings appropriately, and this is the focus of the Hub.
The Hub engages with industry more effectively, assisting competitiveness through transfer of innovative technology for new and better products, improved economics, sustainable production and new business growth. The ultimate aim is to build a self-sustaining operation from the translation of excellent fundamental research to end-user application.
Who we work with
Through the ParticlesCIC and Institute for Process Research & Development (iPRD) we are closely engaged with a wide range of partners, including; Procter & Gamble, GSK, Syngenta, AstraZeneca, Infineum, Saudi-Aramco, Malvern, Akzo Nobel and Pfizer. ParticlesCIC hosts a unique combination of world-class facilities (£20m state-of-the-art equipment) and research knowledge and has a substantial track record of solving industrial problems; we deliver services that industry needs, to the timescales that industry wants. iPRD is comprised of experts from the field of chemistry and engineering, who work closely with the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries, to develop technology which can improve manufacturing processes and thereby impact on costs, quality, productivity, waste and energy. As a key partner in the N8 Research Partnership, a collaboration of the eight most research intensive universities in the North of England, as well as Nanofactory, a consortium of Yorkshire’s leading universities, we are committed to maximising the impact of our research base to ensure UK industry remains a research leader and globally competitive across the sector.
13. Professional Services Joint Hub Directors
Professor Ian Kirkpatrick and Professor Mark Stuart
Hub Innovation Manager Jo Cutter
Host Faculty
Leeds University Business School
About the sector
The UK commercial financial and professional services sector as a whole generated ÂŁ115 billion turnover in 2010 or 8.9% of UK output (ONS, 2010), and employs the largest share of any sector, employing 11.5% of the workforce (UK Treasury, March 2009) or an estimated 2.0 million workers. Although London has been consistently ranked as a primary global financial centre, around two-thirds of financial and professional service employees in the UK are based outside of London. Sector businesses face considerable challenges through increased competition, with globalisation and new technologies affecting traditional professional-client relationships. Changes in sector regulation and public expectations of professionals mean sector organisations must carefully consider their market opportunities, business models and talent management needs.
What we do
Our unique breadth of expertise, located across a number of faculties, covers the established professional services (accountancy, finance and law), the newer or emerging professional services (consulting, the management of shared services) and the transitional or transformed professional services such as those managing radical change in the public sector. Our academic team includes many who joined higher education from careers in practice or consulting and have considerable experience in private, public and third sectors. Their expertise covers leadership and innovation, talent and knowledge management, governance and ethics, decision research and systems and network analysis. The role of the Professional Services Hub is to enhance the engagement between sector organisations and the University and to help facilitate access to and exchange with our world-class talent. The Hub co-ordinates a range of activities focused on the exchange of knowledge and learning. For example we support collaborative research projects, undertaking research with you (as opposed to on you) and the Hub has ‘seedcorn’ funding available for exploratory collaborative research. Other current projects include mapping the professional services sector in the Yorkshire region, exploring the impact of de-regulation on legal services business in the UK, understanding governance models
in the social enterprise sector, the professional development pathways of self employed professionals and the emergence of new professional services firms in clinical commissioning. We welcome your ideas on themes and collaborations for future sector research. We run sector focused events to share knowledge between academics and sector practitioners and offer executive education and consultancy services. We also facilitate opportunities for students (degree and post graduate) to enhance their understanding of the sector through internships and research placements.
Who we work with
The Hub has built on existing working relationships with the professional service sector in Leeds where finance and professional services are recognised as being key to regional economic health. We are working with partners including the City Council and Chamber of Commerce and private firms to enhance networking and collaboration across the sector. Our research collaborations involve working locally, nationally and internationally with a wide range of organisations including businesses, public sector agencies, professional bodies and regulators.
14. Transport Systems Hub Director
Professor Oliver Carsten
Hub Innovation Manager Dr. Natasha Merat
Business Development Manager Erik Thomasson
Host Faculty Environment
About the sector
The transport systems sector covers a broad range of organisations including manufacturers, public authorities, transport infrastructure operators and national transport associations. The development of the Transport Systems Hub presents an excellent opportunity to build on the work of the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) in creating and facilitating new opportunities for a series of successful and long-lasting partnerships with these industries and organisations in the UK and abroad.
What we do
The Hub’s role is to facilitate relationships with industry that maximise the contribution and impact of the University’s transport systems research and expertise. In setting up the Hub itself, we are seeking out transport-related research from across the University and bringing the academics responsible for it together into a network with common purpose and shared capacity to address transport-related issues in a systematic multi-disciplinary way. Some of the work of the Hub is inwardfacing and related to building, marketing and promoting awareness of the Hub brand and to attracting membership. Other work, including setting up an external website is specifically aimed at reaching a much wider audience of potential customers and business partners. Planned and ongoing activities include: ❱ Enhancing links with industry and exploitation of commercial opportunities for our work, expertise and facilities ❱ Promoting and funding industrial visits by sector staff to organisations with a transport systems interest ❱ Supporting PhD student placements within organisations ❱ Design and provision of workshops and short courses for Hub members and for industry ❱ Exchange of knowledge through Hub-dedicated research seminars ❱ Active engagement in the Technology Strategy Board’s emerging agenda on a ‘Transport Systems Catapult’ ❱ Continued membership of ERTICO (the European multi-sector intelligent transport systems partnership).
Who we work with
The Transport Systems Hub targets organisations of all sizes, whose R&D interests and challenges are aligned to our current research expertise. Our two way dialogue with industry informs and shapes our future research capabilities, ensuring our work is focused on addressing real economic and societal challenges. The Hub already has strong links with a number of transport-related organisations in the UK and Europe, including partnership agreements with Jaguar Land Rover and ARUP. Other industrial collaborators, past and present, include Network Rail, ATOC, Rolls Royce, TRW Conekt, Transport for London, TomTom, BMW, Fiat (CRF), and Volvo Technology.
Sector Hubs Cultural & Creative Industries Digital Technologies Energy and Resources Cluster Climate and Geohazard Services Energy Water Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture
For further information please contact: Owen Adams Impact and Innovation Manager Research and Innovation Service Charles Thackrah Building 101 Clarendon Road Leeds LS2 9LJ T: +44 (0)113 34 30912 E: o.c.adams@leeds.ac.uk www.leeds.ac.uk/sectorhubs
Healthcare Cluster Stratified Medicine Medical Technologies Health Services Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Social Care High Value Chemical Manufacture Professional Services Transport Systems
www.leeds.ac.uk/sectorhubs
Leeds, United Kingdom LS2 9JT Tel. 0113 243 1751 www.leeds.ac.uk