Pro Vice-Chancellor Scoops Innovation Award

The work of Professor Hywel Thomas to drive Cardiff University’s collaboration with business and industry has been recognised at Business Insider’s Business and Education Partnerships Awards 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, received the Individual Impact Award at a gala dinner in the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Credited with driving collaboration with smaller businesses, Professor Thomas was also recognised for his work with major companies to generate economic impact. The University is partnering Cardiff-headquartered Compound Semiconductor specialists IQE to develop a CS hub for South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m delighted to receive this Award, but the credit should go to the great team we have at Cardiff University who work tirelessly to develop and promote our links with business, industry, the public sector and the third sector,” said Professor Thomas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We aim to create economic and social prosperity by turning ideas and innovations into products, technologies, spin-outs and start-ups driven by cutting-edge research, technology transfer, business development and student enterprise. We call this vision the Cardiff Innovation System, putting ideas to work to change Wales and the wider world.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now in their third year, Insider’s Business and Education Partnerships Awards celebrate the ways in which companies, universities and colleges work together to produce amazing results. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales Business Insider editor Douglas Friedli praised the finalists, saying the quality of entries was the highest yet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​