Dalton in running for Bhattacharyya Award
The Dalton Nuclear Institute is one of six entries shortlisted for the Royal Academy of Engineering鈥檚 prestigious Bhattacharyya Award, which celebrates collaboration between academia and industry.
The Royal Academy of Engineering has recognised the Institute for its innovative and impactful partnership with the nuclear decommissioning sector 鈥� a collaboration that has made UK nuclear decommissioning cleaner, faster, safer and cheaper.
The Bhattacharyya Award is a tribute to Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KT CBE FREng FRS, the Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and founder of WMG who advocated for greater collaboration between industry and universities. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the annual Bhattacharyya Award is open to UK universities and colleges that have demonstrated a sustained, strategic industrial partnership that has benefitted society and is deserving of national recognition.
Professor Francis Livens said: 鈥淲e are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award. Nuclear decommissioning is a huge challenge worldwide and currently costs the UK over 拢3.5 billion per year. As the largest and most complete nuclear community in UK academia, The University of Manchester has not just collaborated with industry but, over decades, it has shaped, and continues to shape, the entire sector, working with Governments, regulators, and across the industry.鈥�
The University's video entry
Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS, former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Chair of the judging panel for the Bhattacharyya Award, said: 鈥淭he six finalists for this year鈥檚 Award are inspiring and diverse examples of successful collaboration between academia and industry鈥攊t鈥檚 terrific to be able to highlight and to celebrate their innovation and impact and I hope they will provide inspiration for others. We know that there are other great partnerships like these between universities and colleges and industries across the UK in all sectors but that we need many more if we are to fully reap the economic and societal benefit of our research investment and capability.鈥�
The Bhattacharyya Award 2023 will be presented alongside a cash prize of 拢25,000 to the team who best demonstrate how industry and universities can work together. The six finalists have each created a video highlighting their collaborations. The winner will be announced on the evening of 24 October 2023 at a ceremony at the Edgbaston Park Hotel in Birmingham that will showcase the shortlisted partnerships.