
Celebrating 5 years ofthe Technology & Innovation Centre
How time has flown...
The Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in July 2015. Fast forward five years and our landmark Centre has transformed the way academics collaborate with business, industry and the public sector.
From work in medicine manufacturing to award-winning conference and events and groundbreaking research the Technology and Innovation Centre has truly embraced collaborative working across sectors. Here is a look back at some research projects, events and awards from the last five years.
Timeline of the last 5 yearsFive research projects
ClinSpec Diagnostics: life-saving technology for early detection
Researchers Dr Matt Baker, Dr Holly Butler, Dr Mark Hegarty, and Dr David Palmer founded spin-out ClinSpec Diagnostics Limited (ClinSpec Dx) out of their research at the University of Strathclyde. They are working to establish a blood serum test that allows same-day detection of a range of cancers, with the first application to brain cancer.
Find out more
A team of researchers from Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics, in the University’s Department of Physics, developed a highly accurate micro-assembly technique to allow the construction of a 3D lattice of nanowire devices. The team used a specialised ‘transfer printing’ micro-assembly system to print semiconductor nanowire structures, with nanoscale accuracy, in orthogonal patterns onto metal antenna structures.

A research programme which brings together academia and industry to address renewable energy challenges has delivered benefits topping an estimated £200 million. The Technology and Innovation Centre Low Carbon Power and Energy Programme links the University's technical expertise to the low carbon energy sector and is funded by ScottishPower, SSE and Wood.

Scientists at the University of Strathclyde are researching a system to measure and monitor blood chemistry levels in premature and sick babies through their skin, which if successful, could eventually replace the need for invasive blood tests. When babies are born early or sick there is a medical need to track levels of electrolytes such as glucose, lactate, sodium and potassium in their bodies, as the balance of these can be critical.

Research undertaken by the team at CMAC explores the possibilities to align future value network configurations and disruptive shifts in manufacturing and information technologies to enable novel routes to medicines production and deliver added value to ‘end-users’.
Five notable Conferences & Events
EURO 2015 (European Conference for Operational Research)
The biggest conference to be held at the University, EURO 2015, had over 2,500 delegates visit over 4 days in 2015. TIC was the main hub for the conference that used 70 - breakout rooms across the campus.
EURO 2015
Since its inception in 2017 TIC has hosted the Data Space Conference that brings delegates from an array of sectors including energy, environment and marine. The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the global and local challenges which can be met with space solutions.
_-_600x300.jpg)
In 2020, TIC was host to the 6th annual conference from IBioIC. Attracting over 450 delegates the event sees innovative companies exhibiting smart solutions to a global audience.

Running over several days and bringing together 24 countries from around the globe to TIC. The conference promoted collaborative work practices, imparted knowledge amongst peers and helped to enlighten research into the traumatic reality of stillbirth.

TIC was the first UK venue to play host to the 27th International Input-Output Conference in 2019. The conference attracted delegates from across the globe and created an Input-Output related subject matter legacy in the UK and beyond.
Five awards for TIC

Voted by delegates and organisers, TIC has won three M&IT Awards. In 2018 they won the gold award for Best Academic Venue and in 2019 they won the silver award and in 2020 they won the silver.

In 2019, TIC won Best Academic Venue at the 2019 CHS Awards. These awards showcase the very best of the hospitality industry.

In 2019, TIC was named Green Champion at the Glasgow Business Awards. This win demonstrated the strength of TIC's green credentials and the team's commitment to creating a world-class model of sustainable conferencing provision.

At last year's Conference News Academic Venue Awards TIC was named Best Conference Venue (over 250 delegates) in 2019. This was the second consecutive year they won this award beating off stiff competition.

Through the implementation of a number of sustainability measures, TIC achieved Green Tourism Gold status. This is the highest level of accreditation from the largest sustainable certification scheme of its kind.
Five organisations based in the Technology and Innovation Centre

CMAC is a world-class international hub for manufacturing research and training. Working in partnership with industry, its purpose is to transform current manufacturing processes into the medicine supply chain of the future.

Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics offers professional R&D services to industry as a flexible and practical resource that responds to companies’ needs in the development of photonic technologies.

The Institute for Future Cities brings together governments, businesses, academics and citizens to imagine and engage with the future of our cities, and explore how to make cities more successful, healthier, safer and more sustainable for us all.

The Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Electrical Power Systems is responsible for the research and development of effective electrical power system solutions. It also aims to provide Rolls-Royce with strategic and applied research to support aero, marine energy, and electrical activities.

The Weir Advanced Research Centre, sees senior Weir engineers work side-by-side with leading engineering academics to develop product solutions and core technology positions which can be leveraged across the Group.
What's next?
The proposed Technology and Innovation Zone expansion is a carbon-neutral development over two sites to the east and west of the existing Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC). An expanded Technology and Innovation Zone will boost Scotland’s innovation economy and accelerate recovery.
The Technology and Innovation Zone will double the footprint for innovation activities of TIC/Inovo and create innovation space with bespoke offices, labs and innovation demonstrator space. There will also be research space and Public Engagement/Enterprise space.
The Technology and Innovation Zone builds on Strathclyde’s successful ‘industry cluster’ model. This is a collaborative approach with industry, government and innovation centres working together to identify and deliver challenge-led innovation opportunities. The Technology and Innovation Zone will rapidly accelerate the growth of six new industry clusters - Industrial informatics, Health technologies, FinTech, Space, 5G / Next-Generation Communications and Quantum.
Find out more