During the MRes year, innovation training is provided through bespoke courses on:
- nurturing and managing innovation in science which is designed to help emerging scientists understand the factors at play in the process of converting lab-based research to commercial products and services
- integrating new nanomaterials and devices into systems, which focuses on the integration and interfacing of nanomaterials and devices into functioning electronic and/or mechanical systems
Interaction with industry partners through events and joint PhD projects, as well as innovation seminars, helps enrich the students experience during the MRes as well as later years.
Transitioning academic research to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and commercial applications is a key focus of our centre, which we support through schemes such as the NanoFutures Leadership Award, offeredto selected PhD students who are in the final stages of completing their PhD.
The innovation and business training combined with a strong scientific foundation has enabled a number of our students and alumni to set up startup businesses based on their own research or on other topics.
Nano-Innovation Seminar Series
The Nano-Innovation Seminar series provides an opportunity for students to engage with leaders in nano-innovation during the MRes year and beyond. Recent speakers have included Dr Giorgia Longobardi (Co-Founder and CEO, Cambridge GaN Devices), Alison Mears (Co-Founder and Director, Healthy Materials Lab), Dr Jean de la Verpilliere (Co-Founder and CEO, Echion Technologies), Dr Jeremy Burroughes (CTO, Cambridge Display Technology), Prof Rachel Oliver (Co-Founder and CSO, Porotech), Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam (Founder and CEO, TumourVue and GlycoVue), Adam Richardson and Peter Lee (BSI), and Dr Graeme Cruickshank (CTIO and General Manager, CPI-Formulation).