Our Research & Projects

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.

We drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.

Professor Julieanna Powell-Turner, Dr Gavin Phillips, Vicki Ayton and Artur Buchalski are currently part of 2 Innovate projects with Netflox and Floxbox;

NetFlox is an intervention, which means a farmer can take action based on our research. FloxBox monitors and measures the impact of ammonia on the farm using machine learning. For the Innovate UK project, sampling equipment has been installed for a minimum of 3 months for data collection on ammonia levels across a poultry farm site. The aim is to understand these levels and ultimately to inform environmental mitigation.

Catapult Network provide businesses with access to their expertise and facilities, enabling them to test, demonstrate and improve their ideas. By fostering collaborations between industry, government, research organisations, academia and many others, Catapult Network are helping to create the best environments for innovation. Catapult Network work with small, medium and large businesses, to understand the challenges they face and support them in the development of solutions that will help improve their business performance.

There are 9 Catapult Network centres:

• Cell and Gene Therapy
• Connected Places
• Compound Semiconductor Applications
• Digital
• Energy Systems
• High Value Manufacturing
• Medicines Discovery
• Offshore Renewable Energy
• Satellite Applications

Vicki Ayton, Business Development Manager at CREST (University Centre Shrewsbury) is an approved Connected Places Catapult Network Business Fellow in 2021. Connecting both SME’s and the academic community with opportunities in the fields of Post Pandemic Places, Net Zero Places and Hubs of Innovation. Vicki will dedicate 2 days a month to supporting this project.

HyNet is a key proposition underpinning the North West’s bid to become the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster. The North West Energy and Hydrogen Cluster is being led by the North West Business Leadership Team, with support from Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region Mayors and the Cheshire & Warrington LEP. The Cluster could deliver 33,000 jobs, over £4bn investment and save 10 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Professor Joseph Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director of the Thornton Energy Institute at the University of Chester, said: “HyNet is a transformational project that will establish the North West as the leading region in hydrogen. We have the industry, infrastructure and innovation to make this a reality and we are ready to deliver.

Professor Julieanna Powell-Turner at the University of Chester (Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology (CREST) is working with the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP) to develop and promote a Region of Sustainability Excellence (ROSE). The work funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is developing a quantifiable Business Enterprise Sustainability Tool (BEST) – to help organisations prepare for a future based around climate change decisions and actions. Partners include:

• The Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology (CREST) - University of Chester
• The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) - University of the Highlands and Islands 
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Highland Council
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
• Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd
• Skills Development Scotland
• Caithness Chamber of Commerce
• Scottish Government

Professor Julieanna Powell-Turner and Dr Gavin Phillips at the University of Chester are undertaking research funded by the QR Strategic Priorities Fund to effectively link local policy research priorities and opportunities in Shropshire. This research is investigating the levels of ammonia (NH3) downwind as they dissipate from IPU’s (tunnel ventilated exhaust). The aim is to measure the impact of IPUs on the local nitrogen budget, and, facilitate a sustainable approach to the growth of the industry in Shropshire. This research will feed into planning policy in Shropshire, where through the application of environmental management.