Kingston University announces 15 innovative projects to receive Seedcorn funding

Kingston University has announced the funding of 15 Seedcorn Innovation projects this year at a total value of £134,500 to support innovation and knowledge exchange.

All the projects selected 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.
• 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.

Several projects from the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment have also received funding including:

• 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.
• 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.

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

• Find out more about how Kingston University supports businesses.