Kingston University announces 16 innovative projects to receive Seedcorn funding
Posted Thursday 13 February 2025
The 16 research projects supported by Seedcorn funding will meet Kingston University's innovation and knowledge exchange ambitions.
Kingston University has announced the funding of 16 Seedcorn Innovation projects this year at a total value of £144,500 to support innovation and knowledge exchange.
The projects selected all have commercial or impact-at-scale potential, or have potential for further funding in collaboration with business partners.
This year's competition was divided into two distinct themes, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities & the Arts, for People & the Economy), to encourage more applications in SHAPE disciplines.
The Seedcorn Innovation Funding Scheme is supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) and this year funds a range of projects across all four of the University's faculties.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation at Kingston University, Dr Martin Davies, highlighted the importance of the scheme. “Collaboration with external partners is central to our Town House Strategy and knowledge exchange ambitions. The Innovation Seedcorn Funding scheme supports the commercialisation and development of impactful ideas driving local growth, innovation and positive societal change,” he said.
Each project has been allocated up to £10,000 in funding. This year’s projects include:
- Supporting Autistic Young Adults with Sleep – Led by Dr Goffredina Spano (Lecturer in Faculty of Business and Social Sciences) and working with Regent’s University London and UCL, this project focuses on developing and evaluating a sleep information pack for autistic young adults, covering psychoeducation, sleep hygiene and sensory strategies.
- Advancing Monoclonal Antibody Research – Professor Helmout Modjtahedi (Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education) is collaborating with Royal Surrey County Hospital. In its second year of funding, this project builds on previous outcomes to further develop and commercialise lead monoclonal antibody 5 for therapeutic applications.
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Creative and Digital Business Development Programme – Co-led by Dr Kate Scott (School Director of Research and Enterprise, Kingston School of Art) and Amanda Baker (HackCentre Manager) in partnership with the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, this initiative will establish a business development pathway for start-up and pre-start-up creative and digital businesses.
- Mobile App for Congenital Heart Disease Detection – Led by Professor David Wertheim and in partnership with Cambridge Digital Health and Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, this project aims to develop a mobile app that displays and stores oximetry signals, to help with the early detection of congenital heart disease in newborn infants.
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Using Neuromorphic Vision for Wind Turbine Inspection – Professor Maria Martini (Course Director) is working with partner Airborne Robotics Ltd on a project that will use KU research in neuromorphic vision and apply it to drone technology, with the aim of inspecting wind turbines while they are in motion.
Full list of this year’s projects:
SHAPE Disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities & the Arts, for People & the Economy)
Project title: Developing a professional development skills pathway for pre-start-up business support
Academic leads: Kate Scott / Amanda Baker; Faculty: Kingston School of Art / HackCentre
External partner: Kingston Chamber of Commerce
Project title: The walls to speak: an exploration of cultural heritage and its relevance within local communities and contemporary Society
Academic lead: Clare Conway; Faculty: Kingston School of Art
External partner: Ham House and Garden
Project title: Commercialising KU’s Hackathon Offer
Lead: Martha Mador; Dept: Learning and Teaching Enhancement
Project title: Redefining Sleep: Empowering autistic adults through co-production
Academic lead: Goffredina Spano; Faculty: Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
External partners: Regent’s University London, UCL
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Disciplines
Project title: AI agents for ethics and privacy (AI4Privacy)
Academic lead: Vasilis Argyriou; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Research Seed
Project title: AI-Driven Suggestion Platform (AI-DSP)
Academic lead: Vasilis Argyriou; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Arcus News Ltd
Project title: Use of natural nanofillers for improving the mechanical properties of polymer matrix for use in fibre reinforced composites structures
Academic lead: Homayoun Hadavinia; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Hive Composites
Project title: Automation and scaling of PropairgateTM technology for the generation of fertiliser from the atmosphere
Academic lead: Adam Le Gresley; Faculty: Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
External partner: Innovatius
Project title: AI-Infused Cloud Security: Enabling Sustainable and Zero Trust Paradigms through Automation
Academic lead: Xing Liang; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Bit Warmer
Project title: Inspecting wind turbines while in motion
Academic lead: Maria Martini; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Airborne Robotics Ltd
Project title: Characterisation of novel lead monoclonal antibody, developed at Kingston University, for diagnostic and therapeutic application in cancer and commercialisation – phase three
Academic lead: Helmout Modjtahedi; Faculty: Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
External partner: Royal Surrey County Hospital
Project title: Using Game Theory to address water resources management and planning problems in England
Academic lead: Silvia Padula; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Aqua Bright Solutions
Project title: AI for Safer Roads: A Feasibility Study on Cost-Effective Pothole Detection
Academic leads: Farzana Rahman / Jean-Christophe Nebel; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Technocomm Consulting UK Ltd
Project title: Circular Economy - Reuse through Reverse Learning
Academic lead: Purva Tavri; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partner: Chartered Institute of Wastes Management
Project title: Mobile oximetry app to improve screening of babies for congenital heart disease
Academic lead: David Wertheim; Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
External partners: Cambridge Digital Health and Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Brighton
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