The 10 finalists represent a wealth of impactful research and a wide spectrum of academic spinouts and graduate start-ups delivering innovative new technologies and solutions to major challenges.
The finalists, all of whom are based on LUSEP, the University’s science and enterprise park, are:
Innovation in Technology
RECOVER Foster+Freeman
Developed from the University’s Chemistry research in partnership with the government and global forensic manufacturer Foster+Freeman, RECOVER’s novel fingerprint development system is transforming forensic science. Used by police forces worldwide, the technology marks a step change in crime detection and security.
Intelligent Energy
Automotive engineering and Chemistry research from the 1980s underpins the fuel cell global leader Intelligent Energy whose sustainable technology has been successfully deployed to power airborne and road vehicles as well as applications across the logistics, construction and communication sectors.
Innovation in Health and Wellbeing
INCUS Performance
Wearable sports technology start-up INCUS exploits cross-cutting research in sports science, engineering, and AI to empower everyday athletes to understand their technique and performance and to tell their sports stories. Founded by alumnus Chris Ruddock (Product Design Engineering MEng, 2016), INCUS employs 20 people, including several University graduates.
Nemaura Medical
Nemaura Medical has launched the world’s first daily-wear non-invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring technology. This has the potential to revolutionise the management of Type 2 diabetes as well as help over a billion people worldwide track their metabolic health and potentially avoid becoming diabetic in the first place.
Tanzii TV
Alumni brothers Ottavio and Dario Tanzillo (both Sociology BSc, 2020) established Tanzii TV to inspire and encourage children to stay active, as well as to help boosting activity levels and wellbeing by connecting with communities. To date the qualified coaches have engaged over 630,000 children and young people and are based in LU Inc. the University’s incubator on LUSEP.
Innovation in Food and Drink Manufacturing
Figura Analytics
Chemistry spinout Figura Analytics, founded in 2021 by Dr Mark Platt and PhD graduate Dr Rhush Maughi, has developed a rapid testing technology that enables drinks manufacturers to screen for contaminants onsite, in under an hour, as well provides a unique and easy way to tailor their analysis, helping them to deliver quality and consistency. The innovative platform also has the potential to benefit multiple sectors including healthcare for rapid diagnostics.
Zayndu
Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering spinout Zayndu founded by Dr Felipe Iza in 2019, helps global growers and seed producers increase agricultural yield at low cost, through the use of unique equipment that kills bacteria and fungi on seeds without any need for pesticides. The technology provides a timely replacement as many of these toxins are banned internationally.
Innovation in Manufacturing and Engineering
Figura Analytics (see Innovation in Food and Drink Manufacturing)
INCUS Performance (see Innovation in Health and Wellbeing)
Zayndu (see Innovation in Food and Drink Manufacturing)
Innovation in Education
Tanzii TV (see Innovation in Health and Wellbeing)
The People Deal
The People Deal is the organisational development consultancy behind the Fairness First Framework™, a nationally unique research-evidenced framework that provides assessment tools and learning solutions for advancing fairness in the workplace. The company was founded by alumnus Louise Lennon (Business Psychology MSc, 2019) and is based in LU Inc.
Worth-it Positive Education
Worth-it Positive Education partners commissioners, schools, organisations and practitioners, helping them to apply sustainable approaches to improving mental health in children and young people. This Community Interest Company is also based in LU Inc.
Innovation in Med Tech and Life Sciences
ACT Medical
Joseph Bentley (Product Design and Technology BSc, 2021) founded ACT Medical in LU Inc. to accelerate the development of a device to reduce catastrophic blood loss from a knife wound. The device has already received significant recognition for its potential, most recently receiving the International James Dyson Medical Award.
Nemaura Medical (see Innovation in Health and Wellbeing)
University Student Innovation
ACT Medical (see Innovation in Med Tech and Life Sciences)
Tanzii TV (see Innovation in Health and Wellbeing)
Theathleteplace
Experiencing first-hand the highs and lows of competing at the highest level, inspired former international 400m hurdler Joe Fuggle (Foundation and current Sport and Exercise BSc student) to launch theathleteplace in LU Inc. to provide a supportive online community for athletes and their parents.
Professor Claudia Eberlein, Loughborough University’s Enterprise lead and Dean of Science, commented: “Getting so many nominations for the LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards from across the University’s extensive innovation and research portfolio, is testament to the impressive variety in our activities and their level of excellence. All nominees have shown ingenuity and determination in solving some of today’s important problems so that each would be a worthy winner. I am delighted to see them nominated and wish all of them the very best of luck for the finals.”
The winners of the LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards will be held on Thursday 24 February at the King Power Stadium in Leicester and tickets are now on sale. Headline sponsors are Morningside Pharmaceuticals, De Montfort University, and the University of Leicester, with category sponsors Howes Percival, Loughborough University, and MIRA Technology Institute.