The Academy has announced a new set of Industrial Fellowships with university and industry partnerships across the UK addressing critical areas such as energy, chemical engineering and biopharmaceuticals.
From pioneering zero-spill technology in petroleum transportation to spearheading sustainable battery innovation and driving forward AI-driven microLED production, the funded projects exemplify the transformative impact of collaborative research.
The Industrial Fellowships programme aims to strengthen the strategic bonds between industry and academia, catalysing the development of innovative solutions to real-world challenges. The new Industrial Fellows are listed below and information on each can be found here.
Academia to industry:
Dr Lateef Akanji, University of Aberdeen
Zero-spill technology for mitigating fluid discharge during tanker breakout
Dr Ulugbek Azimov, University of Northumbria at Newcastle / Emerald Green Power
BIOFLEX: Bio-Waste Organic Flexible Battery
Dr Andrew Cross, Aston University / UK Grid Solutions
Low-cost, highly-power-dense electronic converters for renewable energy sources
Dr Robin Curtis, University of Manchester / Immunocore
Overcoming viscosity issues when formulating bispecific antibodies at high concentration
Dr Dongda Zhang, University of Manchester / Unilever
Applying data intelligence to accelerate chemical process digital transformation
Industry to academia:
Dr Arturas Adomkevicius, ENSERV Power / Swansea University
Advance Solid-State Battery: An Interdisciplinary Approach Integrating Electrochemistry and Engineering
Dr Yingjun Liu, Poro Technologies Ltd / Cardiff University
Combined Generative AI-Spectroscopy Solution for High-Precision/High-Throughput MicroLED Production
Commenting on these latest appointments, Mr Rakesh Sharma OBE FREng, Chair of the Academy’s Industrial Fellowships Scheme Steering Group, said: “These collaborations between industry and academia not only drive innovation but also bolster the economy, elevate engineering standards, and empower exceptional individuals to pioneer transformative solutions. I look forward to following the progress of these new Industrial Fellows as they benefit from the experience of an academic or industrial host environment.”
The Academy is committed to diversity in all forms and whilst the awardees of these latest fellowships are from different backgrounds and working in different regions across the UK, we were unfortunately unable to appoint any women in this cohort. Encouraging more women to apply is an important and ongoing focus for us.
It is our responsibility to review and improve our processes and ensure that investment in programmes such the Industrial Fellowships is appropriate and in line with our values. We have commissioned the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) to carry out an independent project to understand applicants’ user journeys and identify barriers throughout the process. This will be completed by the end of June and the findings will be made public alongside a clear implementation plan. Where feasible, changes will be made prior to launching the next round (September).
In the meantime, we have redoubled our efforts to highlight features of the programme that may increase the appeal of this scheme to women and to cater to applicants’ different needs, including part-time fellowship options, flexible duration and broader eligibility. We have also introduced flexible start dates and offered promotional webinars including question and answer sessions with the selection panel and current awardees in the latest application round. We prioritise inclusivity and the next round of this scheme will have a longer application window and will continue to offer additional support for women, black and disabled applicants through our Access Mentoring initiative.
Mr Rakesh Sharma said: “We recognise that a lack of gender diversity has been an issue for the Industrial Fellowships programme in recent years. Ensuring inclusive outcomes is paramount to the Academy, aligning with the commitment to foster skills and talent across a broad spectrum of engineering research to meet the needs of society. We are taking action to address the barriers that discourage women applicants as our statistics show that more applications from women for these schemes do lead to an increase in women being appointed.”
Notes for editors
The Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowships scheme enables mid-career academics and industrialists to undertake a collaborative research project in either an industrial or academic environment, where one party would host the other. The scheme aims to strengthen the strategic relationship between industry and academia by providing an opportunity to establish or enhance collaborative research between the two parties.
- The scheme is open to engineers from all disciplines.
- Awards can be held from six months to two years, full-time or part-time.
- The Academy will contribute up to a maximum of £50,000 (per-annum) towards the basic salary costs (excluding overheads) of the applicant, paid pro-rata against the amount of time to be spent at the host organisation. The total award is capped at £100,000 for awards that exceed one year in duration.