The University of Nottingham

Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Awards 2014

Monday 2 June 2014, East Midlands Conference Centre

The aim of these awards is to recognise outstanding knowledge exchange and innovation activities across The University of Nottingham, amongst academic staff, students, alumni and within the University’s spin-out businesses. Applications for all the awards are invited from all University campuses.

All shortlisted entrants will be invited to participate in the awards dinner on the evening ofMonday 2 June 2014 at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

The following awards categories are open for application:

Knowledge Exchange Awards

The Knowledge Exchange Awards are open to academic members of staff at all campuses working in the faculties of Arts, Engineering, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science and Social Sciences. The awards will be split into the categories of Business Engagement and Societal Impact with a winner in each category within each faculty.

Knowledge exchange encompasses many of the different modes of external engagement, including,but not limited to, contract and collaborative research, consultancyand professional development services.

  • Business Engagement Award

Business Engagement Awards will be presented to the academic/academic team within each of the five University faculties whichcan demonstrate that their collaboration has made a significant impact on a specific business or group of businesses within one or more industrial sectors.

  • Societal Impact Award
    The Societal Impact Award will be presented to the academic/academic team within each Faculty who can demonstrate that their work has made an impact onsociety more widely, or a specific group of the public. This award includescontribution to public policy.

International KE and Innovation Awards

The International Award is for academic colleagues at UNNC and UNMC who have undertaken significantknowledge exchange work. The award will be given to the academic/academic team on each campus which has made the biggest contribution to building the reputation for knowledge exchange at UNNC and UNMC this year.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards

These awards are aimed at academic members of staff,students and alumni who are able to demonstrate success in an aspect of technology transfer or entrepreneurship.

The awards in this category are:

  • Spin-out Company of the Year

This award will be given to the spin-out company which can demonstrate that it hasmade a significant leap forward over the last 12 months in terms of its development; either through sales, investments, technological development, or a combination of the above.

  • Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year

The alumni entrepreneur award is for the alum who has demonstrated significant entrepreneurial success and expertise within their own business sector.

  • Student Enterprise Award

The student enterprise award will be awarded tothose students, who, through their endeavours, are able to demonstrate entrepreneurial flair, enterprise innovation and creativity in their approach. Awards will go to students in the UK, UNNC and UNMC and entries can be based on activities ranging from student projects to industrial placements, business ventures or social enterprises. The award is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

  • Academic EnterpriseAward

This award recognises an academic who, over the course of his or her career, and through pioneering work, has pushed the boundaries of knowledge exchange for the benefit of both industry and society.

Judging panels

Each Faculty will convene a Judging Panel for the KE awards chaired by the Faculty Dean.

The Student Enterprise Awards will be judged by a panel convened by the Dean of the Business School or their nominee at each campus.

All other Innovation and Enterprise awards will be judged by a panel convened and chaired by the PVC for External Engagement.

Judging criteria for awards

Judges will be assessing applications against, but not limited to, the following criteria:

  • Importance of the project/achievement in its sector - How transformational has the impact been to date?
  • Potential of the project/achievement in its sector – How differentiated is the project between what has been achieved to date and what further impact the project may achieve in the future?
  • Impact on beneficiaries– How broad and deep is the likely influence/effect on beneficiaries?
  • Uniqueness - How extraordinary is the success?What is different about this project? How does it stand out from other knowledge exchange/innovation activities? Is there something unusual about the approach and the outcome achieved?
  • Benefit to the Faculty, School or Division–If applicable, how has the project benefited the University strategically, financially or reputationally?

Judging criteria for the Innovation awards will additionally include the criteria outlined in the award descriptors.

Rules of Entry

The following rules will apply:

  • Entries,other than Academic Enterprise Award and Alumni Award, should be based on activity/outcomes during the period 2008-2013.
  • All entries need to be submitted on the Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Awards entry form.
  • Applicants may wish to enter both the Knowledge Exchange Award categories of Business Engagement and Societal Impact awards.
  • Academic staff based at the Ningbo and Malaysia campuses may also enter the International Innovation Award.
  • Nominations for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards are welcomed. You may choose to self-nominate for these awards if you meet the entry criteria, or alternatively, you may wish to nominate colleagues who you feel are deserving of these awards.
  • The closing date for entries is Tuesday 1 April2014
  • The shortlisted entries will be notified by the middle of April. All shortlisted entries will be invited to the awards dinner on 2 June.Please put this date into your diary, in the event that you are shortlisted.
  • All shortlisted entries will be given the opportunity to provide a poster to display in the pre-dinner exhibition.
  • The Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Awards winners will be announced at a dinner at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Monday 2 June 2014.

Entry Forms

  • Please type details on one of the twoentry forms below as applicable.
  • These forms should be used for all entries

Entry Form forKnowledge Exchange Awards

  • Please email your submission no later than midnight, Tuesday 1 April 2014.
  • Should you have any questions about the awards, please contact Anneke Love on +44 (0)115 748 4555 or by email.

*indicates a required field

Project title*:

Project title- a short, non-technical title

Strapline*:

A short, memorable description of the project (around 50 words)

Award Category*:

Please tick applicable box to indicate which award category you are entering:

Knowledge Exchange

Business Engagement

Societal Impact

International Innovation

The University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus (UNMC)

The University of Nottingham, Ningbo Campus (UNNC)

School/Division/Faculty*:

Contact names*:

Email Address*:

Telephone number*:

Project team*:

Please enter the names and roles of the core project team (the team that you are nominating for an award).

Others involved:

Please enter the names and roles of other contributors to the project. These individuals will be names in the awards material. This section may be left blank if not applicable.

Project summary*:

In not more than 200 words please provide a clear, concise layman’s summary of your project and why it should win. This information will form an integral part of the judges’ decision-making.

Explanation of the project and its impact*:

In not more than 500 words please provide a clear, concise description of your project- emphasising external effect, change or benefit (actual or potential). Why is your project better than expected, or better than current solutions/technology in the same field? What makes it unique? Why does it deserve to win? This information will form an integral part of the judges’ decision-making.

Justification*:

Point 1*:

Point 2*:

Point 3:

Please give up to three bullet points/sentences summarising why your project deserves to win. For example, you may wish to use this section to address the judging criteria, or include quotes from end users/customers. This is the final opportunity for you to articulate the impact of your project and demonstrate to the judges why it should be a winner of The Knowledge Exchange Awards, 2014. Information provided will form an integral part of the judges’ decision-making.

Once completed, please email this form to:

by Tuesday 1 April 2014.

Entry Form for Innovation and EntreprenerushipAwards

  • We welcome nominations/self-nominations for these awards.
  • Please email your submission no later than midnight, Tuesday 1 April 2014.
  • Should you have any questions about the awards, please contact Anneke Love on +44 (0)115 748 4555 or by email.

*indicates a required field

Name of person, team or venture being nominated*:

Nameand contact details of nominator*:

Please tick applicable box to indicate which award category you are entering:

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards

Spin-out Company of the Year

Alumni Entrepreneur Award

Academic Enterprise Award

Student EnterpriseAward

Reason for nomination *:

In not more than 750 words please provide a clear, concise description of why you or the person, team or business you are nominating deserves this award. Provide details of achievements, the impact that they have made (on business or society) and any other relevant information about that will help the judges in their decision making.

Once completed, please email this form to:

by Tuesday 1 April2014.