The KTP Awards are an annual celebration of the people and partnerships behind the UK’s most inspiring and successful KTP projects. The ‘Technical Excellence’ award specifically acknowledges exceptional collaborations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics application.

The 36-month project, in collaboration with the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast and Almac Sciences, a member of the Almac Group, has been a huge success for both business and academic partners.

The KTP, led by Associate Gary Morrison, with support from KTN Knowledge Transfer Advisor Stephen McComb, demonstrated the success of continuous flow platforms as a key enabling technology for faster, safer and more sustainable manufacture of pharmaceutical chemicals and has resulted in the adoption and rapid growth of flow technology within the company.

Expanding Almac Sciences’ toolbox to offer flow chemistry has delivered additional production capacity, new products, and processes and generated new commercial opportunities.

Upon completion, the Innovate UK grading panel awarded the KTP the top grade of 'Outstanding', for meeting all of its objectives. Not only were all objectives met, the partnership exceeded expectations as the continuous approach was critical in the drive to ensure novel, superior technologies that would improve supply-chain resilience, net-zero impact and achieve continued growth within the sector.

Project success was further disseminated through multiple peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, poster prizes and the permanent employment of KTP Associate within the company.

Academic Supervisor, Dr Haresh Manyar, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s, commented, “The university has seen remarkable gains through this KTP which has resulted in the acquisition of new research grants exceeding £1 million. Additionally, we've shared our KTP insights with the scientific community through three published papers, extending the reach of our impactful work”.

The KTP project has accelerated development and increased expertise in Almac to drive real financial success, build a team and establish Almac’s expertise on the world stage.

Gary Morrison, KTP Associate said, “It is an honour to be shortlisted. Contributing to the evolution of flow chemistry expertise at Almac throughout the 3-year project has been hugely beneficial and I am delighted that has been recognised. I look forward to the awards ceremony in October.”

Over 800 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships projects between universities and business are active across the UK, with less than 40 shortlisted for the awards.

Lorraine Marks, Head of KTP at Queen's, added, “We are thrilled that our partners have been selected as one of three finalists in a highly contended category. It is a celebration of the unwavering dedication and expertise demonstrated by the entire project team who are operating at the cutting-edge of flow chemistry. This recognition also underscores the exceptional support provided by the experienced Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Queen’s team whose end-to-end support has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in driving the success of this project. We wish the entire project team the best of luck at the Awards”.

The KTP Awards will take place in Cardiff on 18 October 2023.

KTPs are funded by UKRI through Innovate UK with the support of co-funders, including the Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Invest Northern Ireland, Defra and BEIS. Innovate UK manages the KTP programme and facilitates its delivery through a range of partners including the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), Knowledge Bases and Businesses. Each partner plays a specific role in the support and delivery of the programme.

If you have an innovative idea for your business but do not have the in-house expertise, get in touch with us to discuss whether a KTP could help take it forward at ktp@qub.ac.uk

Media

For media enquiries contact: Aoife Lynch, KTP Marketing Officer

E: aoife.lynch@qub.ac.uk  W: www.qub.ac.uk/ktp