The University of Manchester held its inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards on Wednesday 7 October at the Whitworth Art Gallery, recognising eight collaborations delivering impact through partnership working.
The awards attracted more than 120 nominations, with 25 partnerships shortlisted across eight categories. The event brought together academics, researchers, professional services staff and external collaborators as part of the University's Innovation Festival.
Award winners
Strategic Alliance Excellence: Boots / No7 and Prof. Michael Sherratt and Dr. Abigail Langton were recognised for a partnership spanning over two decades in skin science and evidence-based skincare. The collaboration has translated research into products used by millions of consumers while generating significant research outputs, investment and innovation.
Regional Partnership Excellence: United Utilities and Prof. Timothy Foster received recognition for long-standing collaboration covering integrated water management, digitisation, robotics, sustainability and skills development across the North-West.
Research Collaboration Excellence: FUJIFILM and Prof. Alan Dickson were recognised for advancing bioprocessing and biomanufacturing research through the Centre of Excellence in Bioprocessing 2.0.
Social Enterprise Excellence: One World Together and Prof. Nicola Banks won the award for partnership supporting changemaking education and community engagement, securing funding to work with schools across Greater Manchester.
Small Business Partnership Excellence: Saraco Industries Ltd and Prof. Sarah Cartmell and Prof. Andrew McBain were recognised for developing plastic-free clinical disinfection wipes for healthcare applications.
Academic Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Champion: Dr Thomas Bannan was recognised for translating atmospheric science into public and environmental benefit, including leadership of air quality initiatives and the £1.3 million RAMMIC Retrofit Innovation Centre.
Business Partnership Rising Star: Dr Milo Harries received this award for work with Leeds City Council and the Aire Resilience Company on climate resilience and natural flood management.
Partnership Excellence of the Year: Saraco Industries Ltd and Prof. Sarah Cartmell and Prof. Andrew McBain won the highest accolade, recognising the depth and longevity of their collaboration combining expertise in bioengineering, microbiology and materials science.
University impact through partnership
Prof. John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, said partnership runs through the University's Manchester 2035 strategy. The University created 191 new business partnerships over the past year and now ranks first in the UK for contract research with small and medium-sized enterprises.
The award trophies were designed and manufactured by students in the University's Makerspace. The awards were organised by the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, led by Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange.
