Latest news from University of Birmingham Enterprise How the Birmingham Drug Discovery Hub created an investment-ready ‘drug library’ Description:Set up to realise untapped potential in Birmingham’s drug discovery research, the Hub has attracted more than £4m on the back of just £0.2m investment Date:18 April 2024 Suez to pilot Salinity Solutions' low energy reuse technology in France Description:Salinity Solutions was formed as a spinout in 2021, and has developed a groundbreaking technology to reduce the environmental impact of water treatmentDate:16 April 2024 Data intelligence software company wins West Midlands premier pitching competition Description:The Dragon’s Den-style contest is a partnership between Aston University, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Warwick Date:22 March 2024 Birmingham scientists using novel hydrogel to create ‘lollipops’ for mouth cancer diagnostic Description:The biocompatible hydrogel concentrates and labels proteins in a single step, so is suittable for detecting low abundance proteins from small sample sizes. Date:22 March 2024 Salinity Solutions secures £1m investment from SQM Lithium Ventures Description:The investment, from one of the world’s leading producers of battery-grade lithium chemicals, will fund the next stage of the company's growth.Date:18 March 2024 Novel technologies for transforming wind turbine and power grid stability control Description:The technologies overcome forced oscillations and grid frequency events, which can cause widespread disruption over entire power grids.Date:13 March 2024 Exam marking platform raises £1.6m to target US growth Description:Graide uses assistive AI and machine learning to help teachers grade essays and provide feedback to students. Date:27 February 2024 Boosting EV range with microwave energy Description:The method charges the car at an EV charging station, and the charging process stores the microwave energy inside the car.Date:22 February 2024 Tagomics raises £6.7m to improve disease diagnosis Description:The investment will accelerate the spinout's R&D, with the goal of delivering improvements in diagnosis and tretment for cancer and other diseases. Date:21 February 2024 University of Birmingham signs pioneering collaboration agreement with Vital Energi Description:The University and Vital Energi will work together to continue the development of thermal storage Intellectual Property (IP). Date:20 February 2024 Further funding for new device to improve treatment of anal fistula Description:The award will fund a clinical study across 10 UK hospitals to demonstrate clinical safety and healing endpoints in over 100 patients. Date:14 February 2024 MoniRail wins funding to develop quantum-based navigation system for railways Description:University of Birmingham spin out MoniRail has been awarded a prestigious contract by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Innovate UK.Date:12 February 2024 Michabo Health Science: research on behalf of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Description:The spinout is working with a consortium on the reliability and relevance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing. Date:06 February 2024 Birmingham Platelet Group recognised in 2023 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards Description:Birmingham researchers have been celebrated for their breakthrough work in thrombosis.Date:02 February 2024 Innovators launch new initiative to help address UK's battery skills gaps Description:Spinout About:Energy launches ‘Formula Student: Drive to Recharge’ to support battery skills development Date:24 January 2024 Space project to boost map-making and environmental monitoring Description:Microsatellites (smallsats) will fly in tight formation and provide a highly accurate profile of the earth’s surfaceDate:23 January 2024 Researchers unveil new way to counter mobile phone ‘account takeover’ attacks Description:To understand and prevent these attacks, researchers had to get into the mind of the hacker, who builds a complex attack by combining smaller tactical steps. Date:22 January 2024 Novel railway point switching technology, inspired by aircraft control systems Description:Repoint improves on the traditional design, which has been in use for over 200 years. Date:10 January 2024 First production of recycled magnets at Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham Description:The start of production is a major milestone in securing a supply chain that will fulfil demand for these elements. Date:18 December 2023 Upcycling battery materials for next generation EV batteries Description:The researchers believe this is the first time such materials have been made from recycled feedstock. Date:13 December 2023 Spinout About:Energy and Eatron Technologies win funding to extend electric vehicle battery lifetime Description:The companies have been awarded funding from UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge. Date:05 December 2023 Eye-safe laser technology to diagnose traumatic brain injury Description:The technology is expected to be developed into a hand-held device for use in the critical ‘golden hour’ after traumatic brain injuryDate:29 November 2023 Birmingham biomedical incubator lands national award Description:Unit 9 launched in 2022 to provide much-needed space for Birmingham’s biomedical innovators. Date:28 November 2023 Birmingham launches AI-powered design for industrial processing equipment Description:EvoPhase will use an AI-led ‘evolutionary design’ approach that is applicable to a diverse range of equipment, across many industries. Date:06 November 2023 New AI platform to mark essays in all subjects – including English Description:The assistive AI platform has been tested independently by Oxbridge, who ran their English marking through the platform with remarkable results. Date:01 November 2023 Birmingham rare earth magnet recycling technology selected as Minerals Security Partnership project Description:One of only 17 projects selected by the MSP, which aims to build secure, responsible mineral supply chains to meet net zero-carbon goals.Date:26 October 2023 Birmingham precious metal experts to work together in Prosperity Partnership Description:The project involving will see university researchers work with Cooksongold Additive Manufacturing to develop precious metal alloys for 3D printingDate:25 October 2023 New approach for battery recycling, using less energy and less hazardous chemicals Description:The new method can simplify battery recycling, which currently concentrates on recycling elements by dissolving battery cathodes using strong acidsDate:20 October 2023 Birmingham-born concussion diagnostic collaborates with 2023/24 United Rugby Championship Description:The URC is collaborating with Marker Diagnostics, which was founded in 2016 following pioneering concussion research at the University of Birmingham. Date:19 October 2023 Midlands companies join Innovation Accelerator for new healthcare technologies Description:Multiple organisations from across the region are joining the University of Birmingham to drive new healthcare technologies towards commercialisation.Date:18 October 2023 Birmingham Platelet Group delivers breakthrough ‘nanobody’ technology Description:Birmingham researchers created antibody fragments called nanobodies to help scientists understand more about platelet disorders such as bleeding or thrombosisDate:12 October 2023 Birmingham research shortlisted for the 2023 Electronics Weekly Readers’ Choice Award Description:Dr Yi Wang was shortlisted for a new ‘phase shifter’ technology that will reduce signal loss in antenna systemsDate:27 September 2023 Birmingham launches new Dental and Biomaterials Testing Service Description:BiMaTs will offer a range of services including developing protocols that are specific to the needs of individual clients Date:18 September 2023 Partnership to create UK's first circular supply chain for wind turbine rare earth magnets Description:The "Re-RE Wind" partnership seeks to play a pivotal role in securing the future of sustainable wind energy. Date:11 September 2023 Birmingham scientists partner Canadian critical minerals extraction experts Description:A new partnership agreement will bring the University of Birmingham’s mineral extraction expertise to new markets.Date:01 September 2023 Novel biologic Ab-IPL-IL-17™ shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease Description:The antibody targets a section of signalling proteins that play a central role in sustaining inflammation during onset and progression of autoimmune diseasesDate:15 August 2023 Researchers aim for rapid biomarker diagnostic test for stroke, using saliva Description:The study aims to identify biomarkers in blood, urine, or saliva, for rapid diagnosis so patients are routed directly to the most appropriate treatment centre. Date:20 July 2023 Spinout Delta g raises £1.5m to build gravity gradiometry platform for mapping the underground space Description:Leading venture capital companies have invested in Delta g to enable their vision of creating the ‘Google Maps for the underground space’Date:13 July 2023 Birmingham start-up awarded funding for technology that generates water out of air Description:The founders met as graduate researchers at the University. Their company is offering solutions to the global water scarcity crisis. Date:12 July 2023 Midlands Mindforge announces new Chief Executive and Chair Description:Co-founded by eight Midlands universities, Midlands Mindforge will support the creation and growth of university spinouts and IP rich companies in the regionDate:23 June 2023 Birmingham research contributes to World Rugby’s international player welfare campaign Description:Birmingham research underpins the concussion test which was used throughout the collaboration Date:22 June 2023 Chronic wound healing using glass Description:The study shows how silver impregnated into ‘bioactive glass’ delivers more long-lasting antimicrobial wound protection than conventional alternativesDate:15 June 2023 Battery spinout About:Energy secures £1.5m seed investment Description:The seed round had participation from HighSage Ventures, Vireo Ventures, Rishi Khosla, Plug & Play Ventures, and Electric Revolution Ventures. Date:08 June 2023 Birmingham spinout to develop 20-minute test following surge in sexually transmitted infections Description:Funds awarded to Linear Diagnostics for rapid point-of-care test for gonorrhoea and Chlamydia in men who have sex with men, and women who have sex with women. Date:08 June 2023 New concussion study in women’s rugby Description:Marker Diagnostics, which developed a saliva-based concussion diagnostic based on Birmingham research, is to start a study on concussion in sportswomen. Date:18 May 2023 Birmingham to become UK’s first centre for rare earth magnet recycling Description:Rare earth magnets, one of the building block materials for clean growth, will be recycled at a plant at Birmingham’s Tyseley Energy ParkDate:17 May 2023 The ‘invisible’ cellulose coatings that mitigate surface transmission of pathogens Description:A thin film of cellulose fibre that is invisible to the naked eye, is suitable for use on high traffic objects such as door handles and handrails. Date:17 May 2023 Birmingham provides world-leading dental health expertise to Sigrid Therapeutics Description:Professor Iain Chapple will work with Sigrid to identify and develop further applications for a technology that limits oral bacteria’s access to sugars Date:09 May 2023 ‘Vein-on-a-chip’ could help scientists study thrombosis without animal models Description:Blood clot researchers could benefit from a new device that mimics a human vein, replacing the need for animals for some studies.Date:27 April 2023 University of Birmingham, Dexter and Cegedim Health Data partner in gestational diabetes trial Description:The data-driven trial will use the Dexter software platform, developed at the University to identify suitable trial participants from electronic patient recordsDate:18 April 2023 Spinout About:Energy launches revolutionary battery design platform Description:About:Energy recently secured a £1m government-funded project from the Faraday Battery Challenge programme and has now launched its first product. Date:04 April 2023 University of Birmingham establishes new independent investment company Description:The University of Birmingham is one of eight universities in the Midlands to establish a new investment company to accelerate commercialisation activities. Date:03 April 2023 Funding awarded to accelerate battery research, supporting ambitions of a cleaner, greener future Description:Research led at Birmingham is part of a £29 million funding package from the Faraday Institution to invest in the most promising and impactful battery researchDate:30 March 2023 Fast chemistry takes on fast food Description:The University of Birmingham and engineering firm Stopford announce new funding for novel plastics recycling technology Date:28 March 2023 West Midlands Innovation Accelerator to Spark Growth and Innovation Description:The University of Birmingham is to participate in the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator announced this week by the West Midlands Combined Authority.Date:17 March 2023 More than £1million of investment made in University of Birmingham student businesses Description:The University of Birmingham has facilitated more than £1million in funding for student and graduate start-ups through its incubator, UoB Elevate.Date:16 March 2023 University of Birmingham enters research collaboration with Innospec Description:The strategic research collaboration aims to deliver products that are safe, responsible, resource-sensitive, and environmentally considerate.Date:16 March 2023 Birmingham spinout Salinity Solutions signs agreement with Te-Tech Process Solutions Description:The agreement with a leading manufacturer is a pivotal moment for Salinity Solutions.Date:14 March 2023 New drug to lower brain pressure could treat blinding IIH headaches, trial finds Description:Phase two trial saw significant reduction in pressure in the brain and monthly headachesDate:13 March 2023 Novel urine-based test for non-invasive detection of bladder cancer Description:The urine-based molecular test can quickly and accurately detect bladder cancer and streamline diagnosis, reducing the need for invasive cystoscopies. Date:10 March 2023 Naturally occurring peptide may tackle the ‘root cause’ of obesity-related conditions Description:Research shows the peptide called PEPITEM could provide a revolutionary approach to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases Date:09 March 2023 Hair care entrepreneur wins West Midlands premier pitching competition Description:Winner announced for Minerva Birmingham PitchUp competition, which took place at Venturefest West Midlands on March 1st. Date:06 March 2023 New ‘phase shifter’ technology will reduce signal loss in antenna systems Description:The new phase shifter uses a liquid gallium alloy and shows low signal losses and extremely low phase deviation over a wide bandwidth. Date:06 March 2023 University of Birmingham, Globant, Dexter, announce R&D partnership Description:The partnership will help reduce the time and cost of observational and clinical studies, and de-risk R&D investment decisions in healthcare and life sciences Date:25 January 2023 Novel adaptation for existing blast furnaces could reduce steelmaking emissions by 90% Description:Birmingham researchers have devised a ‘closed loop’ carbon recycling system that could radically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the steelmaking industryDate:24 January 2023 Blood clotting research holds hope for sepsis Description:Researchers who identified a novel mechanism for platelet activation in blood clotting (thrombosis) are now turning their attention to sepsisDate:13 December 2022 University of Birmingham announces all language capability for tool to expedite Long COVID research Description:The validated Symptom Burden Questionnaire™ for Long COVID (SBQ™-LC) will help medical researchers develop or test new treatments.Date:08 December 2022 New device from Birmingham, U.K., to provide early diagnosis for cardiac tamponade Description:Diagnostic device to monitor against post-surgery heart strangulation risk under development by company formed by Birmingham cardiothoracic surgeonDate:05 December 2022 University of Birmingham Enterprise lands award for ‘Deal of the Year’ Description:University of Birmingham Enterprise has won the coveted Commercial Deal of the Year award from PraxisAuril, a world-leading association for Knowledge Exchange Date:02 December 2022 University of Birmingham spinout founder in UK tech entrepreneur watchlist Description:Tim Naughton, who co-founded engineering technology startup Salinity Solutions in 2021 has been chosen for inclusion in the TechRound ‘29under29’ listing.Date:24 November 2022 University of Birmingham incubator scores twice on prestigious watchlist for female entrepreneurs Description:Two alumni from the B-Elevate incubator selected for the Telegraph NatWest 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list.Date:22 November 2022 Minerva Birmingham Investment Pitching Competition now open for applications Description:Organisers of the competition, which provides training on how to secure investment, are inviting applications from ambitious small businesses in the Midlands. Date:22 November 2022 Researchers make miniature ‘bone marrows in a dish’ to improve anti-cancer treatments Description:The organoids provide a micro-environment that can accept and support the survival of cells from patients with blood malignanciesDate:15 November 2022 ChromaTwist lands funding to develop fluorescent dyes for the flow cytometry market Description:The University of Birmingham spinout has secured £487k of equity investment to develop its new class of fluorescent dyes for flow cytometry.Date:14 November 2022 Historic concussion monitoring collaboration extended during Women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup Description:The collaboration between University of Birmingham spin-off Marker Diagnostics, Rugby Football Union and World Rugby extended for the Women’s Rugby World CupDate:11 November 2022 New NoriZite™ Nasal Spray launches in the UK Description:Award-winning innovation from Birmingham Biotech Ltd and University of Birmingham is now available in the UKDate:28 October 2022 New device for early detection of gum disease Description:Researchers are developing a rapid test for gum disease, which they expect to play a pivotal role in early detection of heart or lung disease, and diabetes. Date:13 October 2022 Therapeutic games and brain stimulation mitigates cognitive decline in older adults Description:Older people may be able to boost working memory with a new approach that couples online therapeutic games with a non-invasive brain stimulation technique.Date:12 October 2022 New Midlands incubator for medical technology companies Description:Birmingham now has a new short-term incubator for MedTech companies, based at the Birmingham Research Park. Date:29 September 2022 Rail Innovation Cluster launched by the University of Birmingham at Innotrans Description:A new home for businesses looking to deliver innovation into the rail sector has been launched today by the University of Birmingham.Date:26 September 2022 University of Birmingham agree to collaborate with Global Centre for Rail Excellence Description:A new agreement will see railway expertise from academia, government and industry driving forward rail innovation at a world class rail testing centre in Wales.Date:21 September 2022 Research identifies new treatment target for CNS injury and neurological disease Description:Potential target could treat long-term neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and foster nerve regeneration in central nervous system injuries. Date:20 September 2022 University of Birmingham signs licensing deal with world’s largest COVID-19 test provider Description:The licence is for a new testing method that is just as sensitive as PCR, but faster than a lateral flow testDate:04 August 2022 New method to promote biofilm formation and increase efficiency of biocatalysis Description:The researchers identified synthetic polymers that induce biofilm formation in E. coli, a bacterium commonly used in biocatalysis. Date:01 August 2022 Research shows investigational drug fosters nerve repair after injury Description:Scientists from the University of Birmingham have shown that a brain-penetrating candidate drug can foster regeneration of damaged nerves after spinal trauma Date:12 July 2022 OakNorth, S-Cube and Intercalation founders back university battery spinout About:Energy Description:Spinout About:Energy has closed a funding round thanks to investments from three notable technology experts. Date:05 July 2022 Novel polymers could lead to greater crop yields for farmers Description:The new polymers are designed to quicken the formation of beneficial biofilms, and are expected to result in stronger plants, and higher crop yields. Date:21 June 2022 New technology for water quality monitoring receives prestigious award Description:Birmingham researchers collaborated with industry to develop the device, which measures the quality of water in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Date:14 June 2022 ‘Beam-steering’ technology takes mobile communications beyond 5G Description:A new beam-steering antenna increases transmission efficiency and opens frequencies for mobile communications that are inaccessible to current technologies.Date:03 June 2022 Research paves the way for stronger alloys Description:Research shows how microscopic crystals grow in molten metals, and paves the way for improving the tensile strength of alloys used in casting and weldingDate:01 June 2022 Birmingham research brings hope for spinal cord injury treatment Description:Birmingham scientists have shown an existing drug may reduce damage after spinal cord injury, by blocking the inflammatory response in the spinal cord.Date:20 May 2022 Former students raise £800k for edtech platform that automates grading Description:Three former students who developed software that cuts the time to mark maths and science papers have raised £800,000 to commercialise the system. Date:19 May 2022 New tool to assess Long COVID symptoms Description:A comprehensive tool that can assess the symptoms of Long COVID has been developed at the University of Birmingham for use in research and clinical care.Date:27 April 2022 Artificial intelligence offers solution to heavy marking loads Description:An assessment and feedback platform that cuts the time taken to mark work in maths and science subjects has been designed at the University of Birmingham. Date:26 April 2022 New spinout Healome Therapeutics to speed development for ocular disease and eye trauma therapeutics Description:The spinout has been created to commercially deploy a platform that delivers a ‘pro-healing’ microenvironment for the leading causes of preventable blindness.Date:25 April 2022 Urine test for bladder cancer could replace 1000s of invasive cystoscopies given each year Description:Birmingham researchers have developed a new urine test for bladder cancer that could reduce the need for invasive and time-consuming diagnostic procedures. Date:21 April 2022 Biomarker research boost for spinout Empower Therapeutics Description:The brainwave biomarker is being leveraged to both identify pain sensitive individuals and change their perception of pain.Date:06 April 2022 Birmingham software powers global road-building investment strategy Description:HDM-4, a strategic planning software developed at the University of Birmingham, will get a major upgrade led by the World Bank Group. Date:24 March 2022 Research into sugar-based plastics shows the shape of things to come Description:Research into sugar-based plastics shows the shape of things to comeDate:17 March 2022 Specialist molecular diagnostic company lands in Birmingham Description:Specialist molecular diagnostic company lands in BirminghamDate:16 March 2022