Knowledge Transfer Partnership aims for national accolade

10 February 2008

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), involving the University of Hull's Department of Engineering, the University of York's Departments of Biology and Chemistry and brand protection specialists, Authentix Limited, has been named the best in North East England.

The award will be presented in London in March, where the partnership will be up against rivals from other regions vying for the title of 'Best UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership‘ at the annual awards ceremony for this Government-backed scheme.

Using the knowledge, technology and skills at UK universities, KTPs have become Europe's leading programme to help businesses to improve competitiveness and productivity.

Bill Walker, Director of the University of Hull's Knowledge Exchange, said, "It is fantastic news that the Universities of Hull and York have received this prestigious KTP award, which confirms our positions as leading suppliers of expertise and innovation to the regional economy."

Authentix is a global leader in product authentication and the KTP involved the University of Hull's Department of Engineering to develop a product for quantitative tests of level of markers in fuels.

Erwin Dorland, Vice-President, Global Client Services at Authentix Ltd, which has offices in York, Dallas, New Delhi and Cape Town, said, "We are delighted that the very real outputs and success of the KTP have been publicly recognised through this award."

Dr James Gilbert, from the University of Hull's Engineering Department, said, "This is a particularly exciting project to have been involved in. The commercial scope for a device that detects counterfeit fuel is immense and it has been a privilege to apply our expertise to this ground-breaking project. It will be very rewarding to see how the technology is rolled out globally."

A full case study on the partnership is available on the KTP website.

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Press Enquiries

For press enquiries, please contact Claire Mulley on 01482 466943

KTP Enquiries

For more information on establishing a KTP with the University of Hull, please contact Liz Ringrose on 01482 466909

Notes to Editors

Authentix is a global leader in product authentication, providing research and technology to detect and remove counterfeit and adulterated products within the petroleum, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries.

Authentix Ltd's offices in York provide the European Headquarters for the organisation.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a UK-wide programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base.

They serve to meet a core strategic need and to identify innovative solutions to help that business grow. KTP often delivers significant increased profitability for business partners as a direct result of the partnership through improved quality and operations, increased sales and access to new markets. Social enterprises see improved results, too.

Department of Engineering

The University of Hull's Department of Engineering is a centre of excellence for teaching, research and interaction with business.

Hull is one of the few universities that has a genuine General Engineering provision where skills across the various branches are taught by professional and practising engineers.

The department's strengths include design, manufacture and the use of materials across all branches of engineering and technology. It also hosts a business-facing Engineering Innovation Institute.

Degree programmes cover Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Product Innovation.