Aston Science Park and Aston University continue to work together to develop the local economy. Recently the partnership was displayed at the Festival of Innovation showcasing the work of Aston Science Park, the Photonics Cluster and Aston University culminating in an award at the gala dinner.

Aston University was awarded two prestigious innovation awards in a week after taking the Impact through Innovation award at the Lord Stafford Awards and a £100K EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Challenge Award.

The Lord Stafford Impact through Innovation Award was presented to Aston University and Black Country manufacturing company Metallisation Ltd in front of VIP’s from across the West Midlands at the special 10th anniversary dinner at the NEC.

Terry Lester, Managing Director of Metallisation said: “The collaboration with Aston University enabled us to undertake invaluable research work on our products that we simply wouldn’t have been able to conduct ourselves. Aston has world class facilities and expertise to support new product development and we intend to collaborate closely with the University in the future.”

Aston was also awarded a £100K prize at the EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Challenge Awards. The Knowledge Transfer Challenge rewards and celebrates innovative approaches by universities to supporting knowledge transfer, ensuring that research finds its way to end users in business and the public sector. 

Aston plans to use the money to build on its world-class research in Photonics Engineering with the creation of the Photonics Industry Development Centre. The centre will make use of the facilities and research of the University’s Photonics Research Group and Aston’s relationships with the Photonics Cluster (UK) and Aston Science Park.

John Bailey, Aston University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor said: “We were absolutely delighted to win not only one but two highly prestigious knowledge transfer awards in one week. These Awards establish Aston as a major regional and national centre of excellence in knowledge transfer.”

Photo Caption: Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston University enjoying the celebrations at this years Lord Stafford Awards.