University of Birmingham Enterprise

EvoPhase colleagues Professor Kit Windows-Yule, Dominik Werner, Andrei Leonard Nicusan and Jack Sykes have developed evolutionary algorithms that mimic the principles of natural selection, and use them to improve efficiency for industrial systems – and design wind turbines. The team from the University of Birmingham has a deep understanding of particle and fluid dynamics, and was one of the first research groups in the UK to explore the intersection of AI and particle technologies or complex fluid dynamics for real industrial improvements. EvoPhase is trading as an Operating Division, which allows the researchers to work with industry customers, who receive rapid access to their services. Find out more about EvoPhase in the UoBE Annual Review: https://lnkd.in/eeSG2xAd Laura B. | John Cooke | David Coleman | David Hardman | Rachel O'Reilly | Universities UK | Royal Academy of Engineering | Institute of Physics | Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) | The Royal Society

Dr Benjamin Perry, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham created PsyMetRiC, a digital tool to accurately predict the risk of young people with psychosis developing physical health problems. He is now preparing PsyMetRiC for approval for use by clinicians, so they can deliver individualised risk assessments for future physical health issues, meaning preventive measures can improve long-term health outcomes. Find out more in the UoBE Annual Review: https://lnkd.in/e3NxSeXP John Cooke | Universities UK | David Coleman | David Hardman | Rachel O'Reilly

How can virtual reality bring music practice to life? Massimiliano Di Luca, from the University of Birmingham is doing just that with a platform that allows musicians to customise avatars of themselves, that other performers can relate to. The algorithm for the Joint Active Music Sessions (JAMS) platform was created during the Augmented Reality Music Ensemble (ARME) project, which brought together researchers from six disciplines (psychology, computer science, engineering, music, sport science, and maths), to build a computational model that reproduces a musician’s body movements. Read more how JAMS is coming to market in University of Birmingham Enterprise Annual Review: https://lnkd.in/efEWaR9S Alan Wing | Prof. Islah (Izzy) Ali-MacLachlan | Mark Elliott | Abhishek Goswami | Maciej Tomczak | Universities UK | David Hardman | Rachel O'Reilly | Ryan Stables | sean enderby | Nori Jacoby | Poppy Aves | Katrina G. | Coull Quartet | PartPlay | Museum of Music History | BhamXR

The University of Birmingham Enterprise Review of 2024-25 is now online! This exciting and inspirational year saw the launch of nine new ventures, record demand for academic consultants, and fast-paced development for the University and the region. The Review demonstrates the diversity of our work, and showcases the success of the companies we’ve created, and the community of companies we incubate. We’ve had such a great year that we couldn’t include all the cases we’ve worked on. However we’re giving a big shout out to researchers and companies whose work is featured: PeroCycle | Salinity Solutions | 4D Medicine Ltd | Delta.g | Massimiliano Di Luca | Cancer Research Horizons | Siân E. Faustini | Jennifer Heaney | Ruchi Gupta | Paula Mendes | Yongliang LI | Gregor C. Leckebusch | EvoPhase | Lingsight | Benjamin Perry | Birmingham Biotech | Celentyx Ltd | Hazem Fallouh You can see the Review online at https://lnkd.in/eZ_VdeHS Want to talk to our team? 🔹 For Academic Consultancy and Operating Divisions contact Alex Seabright, PhD 🔹 For incubation contact Angie Reynolds  🔹 For Communications contact Ruth Ashton  🔹 For Enterprise training contact Andrew Cruxton 🔹 For Intellectual Property, spinouts and funding contact Jerel Whittingham at [email protected] David Coleman | Universities UK | David Hardman | Rachel O'Reilly

Three members of the Delta.g technical team have been awarded the 2025 Institute of Physics Clifford Paterson Medal & Prize, which recognises exceptional early-career contributions to the application of physics in an industrial or commercial context. Dr Andrew Lamb, Jonathan Winch, and Dr Benjamin Adams, received the award for work that led to the first commercial gravity gradient surveys using a quantum sensor, marking a key step in transforming gravimetry, the measurement of gravitational signatures for subsurface imaging, into a practical, field-ready technology. Conventional gravity gradiometry, long considered the gold standard for subsurface imaging, has been largely confined to research due to high sensitivity requirements, complexity, and cost. Through their collective work at Delta.g, a University of Birmingham spin-out, the team has helped overcome these barriers, paving the way for a new generation of deployable quantum sensors with wide-ranging applications across infrastructure, transport, and defence. The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. The Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize celebrates early-career physicists whose work demonstrates the real-world impact of physics in industry. This year’s award recognises Dr Lamb, Mr Winch, and Dr Adams for their pioneering contribution to quantum gravity sensing and its first demonstration under commercial contract, work already cited by the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, the Government Office for Science, and the UN Human Development Report for its economic and societal value. Michael Holynski | Universities UK

Research announced by Biocell Energetics and Hydrosome Labs LLC demonstrates a novel approach to overcome a major bottleneck in fermentation that could significantly increase production output without costly infrastructure changes. Oxygen transfer is a rate-limiting step for many fermentations. When oxygen or other gases are bubbled into a tank, most bubbles are large, and shoot to the surface before cells in the fermentation tank can use them. Hydosome is pioneering ultrafine bubble (UFB) technology, with bubbles that are small enough to stay dispersed instead of floating away. The company has recently been accepted to join the Unreasonable Food 2025 program. Biocell Energetics provides profiling and testing services to assess, in real-time, how living cells produce energy, and used this expertise to demonstrate that yeast grown in UFB water achieves up to a 31% increase in oxygen uptake. For brewers and winemakers, this means: 🔹 Shorter fermentation cycles 🔹 Healthier, more resilient yeast 🔹 Greater production capacity without major capital investment The implications extend far beyond brewing, opening new efficiencies in bioprocessing, industrial biotechnology, and precision fermentation. Biocell Energetics was founded by Dr Jonathan Barlow, Scientific Research Director at the University of Birmingham’s Cellular Health and Metabolism Facility, who is a leading expert in cellular bioenergetics, the branch of biochemistry that focuses on how cells generate, store or transform energy. Universities UK | BFBI | BusinessGreen David Hardman | Kate Dutton Mitchell MBE | Rachel O'Reilly

This week, we were delighted to welcome a new cohort to the Medici Enterprise Training Programme, the University of Birmingham’s flagship initiative supporting academics to explore the commercial potential of their research. Our latest cohort includes academics from all over the Midlands including De Montfort University, Loughborough University, Keele University, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Aston University, University of Warwick, Nottingham Trent University, University of Lincoln University of Nottingham, Cranfield University, University of Wolverhampton, and University of Derby. This year’s cohort has been made possible through funding from UK Research and Innovation’s Connecting Capability Fund, allowing a greater number of researchers to engage with enterprise and innovation training. The first session was delivered by international speaker, author and trainer Sue...Sue Tonks. Delegates explored how to build meaningful connections and communicate their ideas with impact -  a vital skill for any commercialisation journey. Eleanor Burdis, Training and Events Manager and organiser of Medici, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome this new cohort to the Medici Programme and look forward to supporting their development as they explore the enterprise potential of their research.” We’re excited to follow their progress and wish them every success as they begin their Medici journey. Find out more about the Medici Enterprise Training Programme: https://lnkd.in/gY5iJz6w #innovation #entrepreneurship #commercialisation #researchimpact #enterprise #connectingcapabilityfund Andrew Cruxton | Rizwan M, BA (Hons), MSc, PRINCE2®

Research published today describes a new approach for the discovery of novel biomarkers in liquid biopsy (blood) samples. Developed by University of Birmingham spin-out Tagomics, the method underpins the company’s epigenomic profiling technology, Active-Seq, the basis of Tagomics’ ActivaceTM platform which targets unmethylated DNA. Current gold standard approaches for assessing genome-wide DNA methylation levels are poorly suited to the challenge of working in liquid biopsy (blood) samples, limiting the performance of cell-free DNA based diagnostic tests. Addressing these limitations, the paper describes Active-Seq (Azide Click Tagging for In Vitro Epigenomic sequencing), which does not alter the underlying DNA sequence and provides a scalable and comprehensive solution for the discovery of novel biomarkers in liquid biopsy samples. Activace is a streamlined workflow that incorporates sequencing library preparation with enrichment of unmethylated DNA. It is compatible with low DNA input quantities, down to one nanogram, and has been optimised for the analysis of DNA methylation in cell-free DNA derived from liquid biopsy samples. The paper demonstrates application of Active-Seq for the detection of abnormal DNA methylation signals in a cohort of colorectal cancer patients, identifying thousands of hypomethylated and hypermethylated regions in tumour-derived tissue, both of which are associated with cancer. The paper is available at https://lnkd.in/ezY67-FQ Paper authors: Luca Tosti | Calum Mould | Imogen Gatehouse | Anthony Smith | Krystian Ubych | Valentina Miano | Jack Kennefick #biomarkers #dna Rob Neely | David Hardman | Kate Dutton Mitchell MBE | Rachel O'Reilly | Neil Hanley | Universities UK

Developmental Psychologist Dr Penny Hannant will present a poster on a comprehensive profiling tool for measuring child development on school entry at the British Association for Community Child Health Annual Scientific Meeting next week. School readiness is in decline, with long-term impacts on children’s outcomes. Yet many existing screening tools fail to capture the complex developmental factors that influence learning. They often rely on brief snapshots, subjective reports, and rarely draw on the expertise of educators. To address this, Dr Hannant from the University of Birmingham’s School of Education developed the Development Profiling Tool, a holistic assessment designed for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) teachers. It enables them to profile children in reception and identify those who may need additional support by the start of Year 1, especially those with neurodevelopmental conditions that are often diagnosed much later. The tool is built around Taylor and Trott’s Pyramid of Learning and provides a full developmental profile across seven key constructs. It offers a comprehensive measure of both child development and school readiness. Validated against standardised assessments, its effectiveness is documented in Support for Learning: https://lnkd.in/ekSCfydr. Visitors to the poster will be able to explore the importance of the neural, sensory, motor and perceptual systems as the foundation for learning in children, using an iPad available at the session. Connect with Penny Hannant on LinkedIn to find out more.

University of Birmingham spin-out and UK-based quantum technology company Delta.g has raised £4.6 million in an oversubscribed seed round to accelerate development and deployment of its gravity sensing platform.  The round was led by Serendipity Capital with participation from National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), and existing investor SCVC. Delta.g is commercialising the world’s first field-tested quantum sensor enabling real-time spatial intelligence. With the capital, Delta.g will deliver field systems through pilot deployments across key government and commercial partners, including the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom. Quantum sensing has emerged as one of the first quantum technologies with the greatest potential to deliver immediate real-world impact, enabling breakthrough advances in subsurface imaging, navigation, and environmental monitoring. Yet across infrastructure, energy, and defence, access to high-resolution spatial data remains limited. Without reliable spatial intelligence, organisations are forced to operate with incomplete information, driving up risk, cost, and delays. Delta.g’s platform directly tackles these gaps, delivering quantum sensors that offer a step-change in precision, portability, and reliability over existing technologies. Delta.g’s technology was developed at the UK Quantum Technology Hub Sensors and Timing.  The proprietary technology, engineered for real-world conditions and early trials is now owned by Delta.g and has shown its value across infrastructure, transportation, and dual-use cases. Press release at https://lnkd.in/eph-_PyJ   #SpatialIntelligence #NSSIF #QuantumSensing British Business Bank | Michael Holynski | Universities UK | David Hardman | Kate Dutton Mitchell MBE | Rachel O'Reilly