Construction Technology Transfer & Licensing Opportunities
Multi-channel Small Footprint Directly Intergrated Optical Sensors for FBG Sensor Network Interrogation >>Funded by a Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept programme (11-DME-003) a team at Heriot-Watt University is developing lightweight high accuracy Fiber Brag Grating (FBG) network interrogators targeting applications within Civil engineering, Aerospace, biosensing and chemical detection.
Using a small footprint multi-channel design the robust sensor chip offers an alternative to existing spectrometer based solutions in FBG sensing.
Compostella >>Compostella is a disruptive technology, from the University of Glasgow, which permits position to be measured with extremely high precision at very low cost.
The system is physically small and highly configurable, with few limitations on mounting. Compostella will be the first single device capable of measuring in 6 axes.
Genespark Molecular Label >>Genespark is a fast fluorescent molecular labelling technology with unlimited multiplex scalability.
Centre for Research on Indoor Climate and Health (RICH Centre) >>People typically spend 90% of their lives indoors and there are well documented links between a poor indoor environment and the comfort, health and productivity of the occupants. The most effective form of health care is illness prevention. Interventions to improve the internal environment of buildings can reduce ill health, social problems and the burden on the NHS. Conditions within buildings however, depend on complex interactions between the external climate, the building fabric, installed systems, actions of occupants, and the wider socio economic environment. Effective solutions are therefore only possible by combining expertise from a wide range of disciplines.
Caledonian Heritage Futures >>Cultural Heritage is a sector vital to Scotland’s social and economic development, which has been recognized in Scottish Enterprise’s cluster priorities, and by the Scottish Executive’s promotion of the National Cultural Strategy for Scotland. Tourism accounts for spending of nearly £4.5 billion and 193,000 jobs in the Scottish Economy.
Cultural heritage provides the context and setting for social activity, involving the maintenance of community identity, and transmission of history in a tangible form. This makes it a bedrock for tourism development.
The Glasgow Sustainability Centre >>Glasgow offers major opportunities in regeneration and sustainable development, with considerable investment and construction activity programmed during the coming 10 years, through for example – the M74 extension; the Glasgow Harbour project; The Clyde Re-Built Initiative; and the Glasgow Housing Association programme - Europe’s largest housing renovation and development scheme. The Glasgow Sustainability Centre was developed against this backdrop and in response to a pressing need for decision making processes and support tools, which integrate environmental, social, community, economic, scientific, and technological considerations.
Centre for Risk and Governance at Glasgow Caledonian University >>Glasgow Caledonian University possesses unique national and international expertise in a number of areas applied to Governance and Risk. This is embedded across the University’s eight Schools and also several Divisions.
Civil Engineering Services / Testing / Consultancy >>The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Glasgow has well-equipped laboratories and facilities, some of which are unique in Scotland. The department offers testing and consultancy services to industry.
Increasing the amount of timber in construction through education, training, and research. >>Centre for Timber Engineering (CTE) is a focus for providing education, research and consultancy regarding use of timber in construction. Timber is a versatile and sustainable material whose use is increasing. The CTE is unique in the UK and is active in raising the knowledge and skills level in the timber industry. CTE provides high level training to building professionals in the use of timber and the implementation of standards. It improves the knowledge of timber engineering through degree and post-graduate courses. Strategic and applied research are other key features (e.g. product development/testing, knowledge transfer); commonly projects involve external partners.
Tidal energy technology >>Plans to make the UK a world leader in harnessing wave and tidal energy are set to receive a significant boost with this project led by Prof. Ian Bryden.
Tidal currents offer a substantial predictable source of renewable energy, however at present the potential use of tidal energy is limited by installations methods for turbines, which require firm attachment to the seabed. This is very expensive and, at present, requires turbines to be placed in water depths greater than 25 metres and less than 50 metres.
Novel Gas/Vapour Sensor Technology ('Electronic Nose') >>Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed a gas sensor device and are currently seeking partners for collaboration.
Industrial Psychology Research Centre >>The Industrial Psychology Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen specialises in the application of psychology to the management of health, safety and emergency response in the workspace, particularly for high reliability organisations. Established in 1987 the Centre has research and consultancy experience within the oil and gas industry, nuclear and conventional power generation, civil aviation, the emergency services and hospital medicine.
The Scottish Offshore Materials Centre (SOMC) >>SOMC is a new facility funded by a Research Development Grant and is located within the University of Aberdeen's Engineering and Chemistry Departments. At the heart of SOMC is a state of-the-art High Pressure-High Temperature (HP-HT) test facility that is dedicated to the needs of manufacturers and users in the oil and gas, petro-chemical, chemicals and energy sectors. The facility allows the testing of materials, components, equipment and geological materials under typical HP-HT downhole service conditions.
