The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 has awarded Industrial Fellowships to the UK's 14 most promising doctoral engineers and scientists.
The Royal Commission has supported them to help bring their technologies to commercialisation and make an impact on businesses and society. Originally set up by Prince Albert following the Great Exhibition of 1851, the industrial Fellowships recognise the best research that could advance British industry and award them funds to bring them to market.
Fellows include Lestyn Stead, reading for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham and supervised by Dr Karl Dearn. Lestyn is working with Dearman to reduce energy losses in zero emissions liquid air Dearman Engines.
Bernard Taylor, Chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, said: "Ensuring Britain's young scientists and engineers are supported is crucial to ensuring that the UK is at the forefront of innovation in the years to come. Our Industrial Fellowships are designed to fund and commercialise the most promising technologies that could shape our society in the future. This year, we have awarded more Fellowships than ever before, and the breadth of technologies we are supporting, from artificial intelligence, to clean power and potential cures for most deadly diseases demonstrates that the talent in the UK is only growing".
The industrial Fellowships provide graduates with the means to develop innovative technology with commercial potential, ideally leading to a patent, while completing a PhD or EngD. Each Fellow receives support for their work, which they will carry out in collaboration with an academic institution and a business partner.
The programme plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration between universities and industry, offering much sought after funding for research and development for new intellectual property. It also enables promising scientists and engineers to conduct research whilst gaining valuable industry experience.