WIREDGOV

Pioneering projects such as Centre for Nanohealth, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) and Software Alliance Wales are among a host of projects, backed by EU Funds and the Welsh Government, which are supporting businesses and creating jobs.

Swansea University’s “Improving Business Effectiveness” event is free to attend and will include workshops, presentations, exhibitions and networking opportunities. It will enable businesses to speak to University staff and find out how they can benefit from increased collaboration and engagement with major projects and partners, including Aberystwyth, Bangor and other Welsh Universities.

Businesses attending the event will have the opportunity to access information on a range of University business services including; R&D collaborations, student placements, new product development support, and flexible training for workplace learners.

One of 246 businesses benefiting from Swansea University's £27m EU-funded ASTUTE (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies) project is Pulse Management Systems Ltd based within ILS. ASTUTE, a unique partnership of all the Universities in Wales, is helping the company to develop a hand-held hygiene device to reduce hospital acquired infections and promote good hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is currently managed by hand washing and alcohol gel placed in hospital wards.

However, in collaboration with ASTUTE, the company has developed an innovative system that will monitor, on a patient-by-patient basis, all medical staff entering the bedside environment so that they sanitise their hands prior to patient contact. Utilising RFID (radio frequency identification technology), a virtual curtain is created around the bed, detecting when someone approaches the patient, while a LED in the care worker’s badge will signal  ‘red’ if hand sanitation is required.

Managing Director Iain Elder said:

"ASTUTE has enabled us to move the idea of a hand hygiene system from concept to reality. I have found the experience of collaborating with ASTUTE extremely positive and by working together, we have arrived at a point that we couldn’t have reached alone."

A prototype system has been successfully developed and has been tested in a mock ward environment, resulting in suppliers to the Health care industry expressing interest in the concept. A further ASTUTE project with the company to provide additional enhancements is currently being scoped, to develop the system further so that the private sector can prepare for the commercial market.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said:

"I am pleased to hear the positive impact EU funds are having in bringing together businesses and expertise from Welsh Universities to drive forward innovation and achieve commercial success. To date, through our successful management of the European Structural Funds we have invested almost £1bn to support businesses and research and innovation across Wales. In addition, £565m worth of contracts have been secured by businesses to deliver EU-funded activities, demonstrating the range of ways in which businesses are benefiting from EU funds."

Ceri Jones, Swansea University’s Acting Director Research and Innovation said:

"The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) offers a wide a range of services for industry, stakeholders and University staff.

"This support will typically include the profiling, delivery and promotion of the University’s research and innovation services in collaboration with research groups and major projects within our seven Colleges and from within DRI’s Business Development Unit."

For more information and to register your attendance at the event, visit the website. Please note places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.