Some of UK's biggest companies shortlisted for prestigious award for university-business collaborations

The fifth anniversary Bhattacharyya Award shortlist spans advanced drug manufacture, innovative radar technology, developing EV batteries, world-leading green steel, eliminating environmental waste and improving compressor technology.

The Bhattacharyya AwardLink opens in a new window is a government-backed annual prize celebrating long-term collaboration between academia and industry, named after the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya CBE FREng FRS, Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Award is worth £25,000, which is given to the winning university, and will be announced on the 20 October.

All the shortlisted entries focus on using high-level research to spur innovation or create new technologies for use in a commercial setting. As Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, one of this year’s nominees says, “This is partnership with purpose, driving innovation, delivering sustainability and securing the future of the UK industry globally.” 

These connections create a talent pipeline for companies while at the same time addressing critical skills gaps within these industries. Universities attract financial investment, ambitious students and both sides, in working together, discover new pathways to solutions and get access to cutting-edge research. Many of the relationships between these companies and academic institutions have been developed over several decades.

The full shortlist of finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

City St George's, University of London & Howden Compressors

Strategic Industry: Academia Collaboration on Compressor Technology

Compressors are vital to industry: they’re used in refrigeration, industrial heat pumps, hydrogen, gas processing and many other sectors. They consume around 20% of the world's industrial electricity. In 2008 City St George's, University of London, teamed up with Howden, a Chart Industries company, to transform compressor technology, making it smarter, cleaner and more energy efficient for the future.

They have become industry leaders in this technology and their innovations have led to an 8% reduction in energy consumption used in refrigeration and air conditioning, which is projected to save 374 million tons of carbon. During the nearly two decades of working together thy have filed seven patents, started two spinout companies and commercialised research through their software, which is now used around the world for design and analysis of compressor systems.

CMAC, University of Strathclyde & AstraZeneca

A strategic partnership to drive innovation in medicines development and manufacturing

The increasing complexity of molecules required for modern medicine, alongside the speed with which they are now developed, forms the basis of the challenge that CMAC and AstraZeneca have focused on over the past 14 years. One of their collaborations has been to optimise the production of KRAS inhibitors, a novel therapy for previously untreatable central nervous system cancers.

CMAC is situated within the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre and has become a global centre for medicines manufacturing research. Their work with AstraZeneca has transformedthe way that pharmaceuticals are developedand manufactured, so they can bring new medicinesto market faster,more cost-effectivelyand more sustainably than before.

Heriot-Watt University, University of Edinburgh & Leonardo

People, Products, Prosperity: A long-standing tripartite collaboration

Leonardo's presence in the city of Edinburgh, and their relationship with these two universities, goes back to World War Two. Today, their work is focused on airborne sensor solutions, searching for those lost at sea and protecting people and platforms that operate in challenging environments around the world.

Many of the universities' students have gone on to work for Leonardo, including Vice-President and CTO, Dr Iain Scott. The enduring relationship with these universities extends well beyond personnel: key research outcomes are embodied in the company's product portfolio, and the path of Leonardo has been shaped by the collaborative effort of generations of these world-class engineers and scientists.

University College London, Savron Solutions, University of Strathclyde & Open University

STAR: New environmental technologies from the UK for the world

The genesis of this startup company was an unlikely alliance between a fire engineer and a hydrogeologist who was concerned about soil pollution. They invented a smouldering combustion process, essentially barbecuing hydrocarbons in contaminated soil, called Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR). 

From this joint endeavour, they partnered with an environmental consultancy to start a company called Savron Solutions. Over two decades they went from a scant drawing on a napkin to full-scale treatment systems, on big industrial sites across the world.  They are now looking at new ways to use this technology, including to eliminate ‘forever chemicals’ like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the environment. 

University of Warwick & Tata Group

Enabling decades of sustained innovation and growth

This relationship – spanning research, education and industrial capability - has resulted in one of Europe's largest research and development hubs, which has received £500m of investment and delivered over 100 research projects in the last decade. This partnership has also trained over 750 degree apprentices at JLR, as well as centres for doctoral training.

The range of projects includes pioneering electric car innovations like I-PACE batteries, lightweight carbon fibre components and laser welding innovations that have cut weight, emissions, waste and cost. The University is closely involved in Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site and its transition to electric arc capabilities, which is leading the world in low carbon steel production.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting OBE, FREng FRS, Chair of the judging panel for the Bhattacharyya Award, said:

“This is the fifth anniversary of an award that provides a blueprint for driving innovation and economic growth in the UK economy. We have recognised companies in the fields of aeronautics, robotics, aviation, space, energy, defence and security. This shortlist, along with previous entries, are responsible for creating thousands of highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, as well as securing billions of pounds in investment in UK companies and universities.”

Science Minister Lord Vallance HonFREng FRS FMedSci said:

“From teams working on life-saving medicines to clean energy technologies, the Bhattacharyya Award is an opportunity to showcase the value of universities and businesses working together to unlock new discoveries that can improve lives.

“We also recognise the importance of these collaborations in creating new jobs and skilling up the UK, which has a major part to play in delivering our number one priority of growing the economy.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The Bhattacharyya AwardLink opens in a new window is an annual award to celebrate collaboration between academia and industry. The UK government announced the award in July 2019 as a tribute to Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KT CBE FREng FRS, Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group. The programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The winner of the 2025 Bhattacharyya Award will receive a £25,000 prize – the winning partnership will be announced at a special event at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London on the evening of Monday 20 October 2025.

About WMG, University of Warwick:

WMG is a world leading research and education group, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes. As an international role model for successful partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors, WMG develops advancements nationally and globally, in applied science, technology and engineering, to deliver real impact to economic growth, society and the environment.

About The Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond. Our work is enabled by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, corporate and university partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and individual donors. 