The University of Leicester has collaborated with two local companies in partnerships designed to foster innovation and drive business growth.
The University has announced Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) with Structural Adhesives Ltd, a research-driven developer of advanced adhesive solutions, and rradar, a legal services and technology company.
A KTP is a three-way partnership between an academic institution, a business and a suitably qualified graduate, aimed at helping companies innovate for growth.
The partnership with Structural Adhesives is valued at £200,000 for two years and will allow the company to commercialise reversible adhesive products, enabling easier disassembly and recycling of electronic, battery and renewable products.
The University of Leicester has a strong track record of working with Structural Adhesives, a family-owned manufacturing business based in Leicester. The company has been developing adhesive technology for over three decades, servicing markets in the UK, Europe and beyond.
Each project is supported by one of Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Advisers, who provide expert guidance at every stage, and is managed by a KTP Associate – a talented graduate or postgraduate.
Chemistry graduate, Morgan Bates, has been recruited as the KTP Associate for Structural Adhesives. She will be supported by Dr Sandy Kilpatrick and Professor Andy Abbott from the University’s School of Chemistry.
The double KTP with rradar, valued at £400,000 for three years, will enable the development of a cutting-edge system that will transform the way businesses identify, quantify and manage risk. It will integrate data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create a platform capable of automatically identifying and assessing risk scenarios.
rradar is a top 250 legal services and technology company that employs over 250 people across seven UK sites, including Leicester.
Leading the academic side of the project are Dr Yi Hong and Dr Paul King from the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Data scientist, Dr Adinath Ghadage, has been employed as one of two KTP Associates, with the second position expected to be filled in the coming months.
Commenting on the Structural Adhesives partnership, Dr Sandy Kilpatrick from the University of Leicester, said: “Structural Adhesives and the School of Chemistry have been collaborating on projects for some time, so this KTP feels like a natural progression.
“The project will deliver a sustainable product that will greatly enhance the circular economy in used electronics, enabling the company to bring their innovative idea to market. It’s really encouraging to see the local economy being supported by the University to launch sustainable products.”
Angela Orton, Director of Structural Adhesives, said: “Our relationship with the University of Leicester began with a smaller project that built trust and proved the value of working together, which has now grown into this impactful partnership.
“Collaborating with the University brings fresh insight and expertise that is helping us move our reversible adhesive concept closer to market.
“For small businesses like ours, strong and trusted relationships with academic institutions are essential for driving innovation and growth, and this partnership is a perfect example of how business and university collaboration can support this. We’re excited to see the positive impact that this sustainability-led project will have on current markets.”
Commenting on the KTP with rradar, Dr Yi Hong from the University of Leicester, said: “This KTP is a fantastic opportunity to apply our expertise in data science and machine learning to real-world challenges. The partnership with rradar will not only advance our research but also provide tangible benefits to businesses, empowering them to proactively manage and mitigate risks.”
Davina Gillyon, Chief Commercial Officer at rradar, said: “Working with the University of Leicester on this double KTP, funded by Innovate UK, has undoubtedly enabled our business and our teams to accelerate the distinctively unique proposition that rradar was built on, and continues to be recognised for in the innovation rankings.
“I would also add that we are incredibly proud to have been awarded the double KTP in recognition of not only the strength of rradar’s cutting-edge risk innovation, but also of its future promise and potential – which we believe to be very much uncapped, given the increasingly fluid and fast-paced environment of risk that we all live and work in today.”
