Innovation is born of great ideas – and the best way to spark great ideas is through starting conversations.
(DMU) brings together talented students and academics with businesses and organisations, creating a culture where ideas are shared and problems solved, and driving positive change in the city, county and region.
This support for innovation is why DMU is proud to be a headline sponsor of the .
Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “Innovation is often seen as new products and technology, and while that is certainly the case it is also about doing things differently, approaching problems in a new way.
“DMU empowers its students and staff to do just that, and we are proud of our close links with the business community, working with them to ensure their ideas can be developed to their full potential.
“The 2021 Innovation Awards was one of the first in-person events I attended as Vice-Chancellor of DMU, and it was brilliant to be able to celebrate some incredible businesses and ideas.
“We need to drive forward this culture of collaborative innovation in Leicester and Leicestershire and I think these awards showcase something very special about our city and county.â€
DMU’s collaborative approach has been in evidence over the past 12 months with major projects that have the potential to bring in huge benefits for the region.
It is working with East Midlands Chamber to create a regional intelligence unit, setting up a data powerhouse that will provide the evidence base to bring more investment to the East Midlands.
The university is closely involved in Leicester City Council’s £1.5m project to transform Granby Street and Church Gate’s historic shopfronts and buildings, and part of the £8.6m Pilot House project for creative industries, which won Government backing last month.
Academics are also trialling new ways of tackling problems facing society, such as digital health, by seeing how patients – particularly those who are elderly or live alone – can be supported through technology.
They are also working on solving problems that face global industries, such as the clothing and accessories sectors. Here are just a few examples:
Professor Martin Richardson, Professor of Holography, has developed a way of embedding holograms into thread fibres to tackle fraud which currently costs billions.
Researcher Dr Karthikeyan Kandan has spun recycled plastic into fibres, creating the first artificial prosthetic limb socket which could save healthcare providers millions of pounds and tackle plastic pollution at the same time.
Professor Katie Laird and Dr Maitreyi Shivkumar worked with the British Footwear Association to carry out the first studies into how coronavirus behaves on shoe leather, helping to inform shoe manufacturers around the world to improve processes and help keep workers safe.
DMU is also the only º£½ÇÊÓƵ university to be a hub for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a series of aims set out by the UN to make the world a fairer place. Many of its courses, research and training are linked to the SDGs.
- For more information about De Montfort University Leicester
Here's what you need to know about this year's awards
will take place on Thursday, February 24, 2022, and with innovation the key to the pandemic, there's no doubt that hundreds of other life-changing inventions are ready and waiting to be recognised and promoted to all.
has curated a list of categories which span across many sectors, including technology, design, education, manufacturing and more, to ensure the finest of talent is rewarded.
- To be in with a chance of winning one of the 11 prestigious awards, click . Nominations close on Monday, January 3.
