This award recognises the importance of commercial partnerships and commercial innovation from research.
Dragonfly AI, born from late Professor Peter McOwan and Dr Hamit Soyel’s ground-breaking research in 2012, is a visual analytics platform that uses artificial intelligence informed by cutting edge neuroscience to show clients how effectively their designs engage their audiences.
Dragonfly AI is the leading innovator within the predictive visual analytics sphere and existing clients comprise some of the biggest leading consumer brands including Harrod’s, GSK, Mitsubishi, Mars and Jaguar Landrover.
Initially a “spot-the-difference” software, developed collaboratively with Queen Mary Innovation, it has grown into a globally embraced platform. Launched in 2018, Dragonfly AI secured £625000 in seed funding and a remarkable £3m in Series A funding, propelling it to global leadership in AI-driven content optimisation.
Dragonfly AI is a truly global spinout based on innovative QMUL research that is transforming a highly competitive industry. The panel were especially impressed by the sustained and significant growth of the company and the endorsements of them as industry disruptors with a positive RDI culture. Dragonfly AI stands as a role model for innovation and enterprise at QMUL.
The QM Audio Engineering Research Team (EECS, S&E). A multidisciplinary research team in the Centre for Digital Music, originators of LandR, Nemisindo and many other spinouts and IP at various stages of development. Highly Commended by panel for their significance within a key creative industry and for their entrepreneurial research culture.
Accent Bias Britain (LLF, HSS). Accent bias can restrict access to elite professions and social mobility. Based on their 5 year ESRC-funded research into accent bias, Profs Sharma and Levon have set up one of the only commercial consultancies in HSS, offering HR training on reducing accent bias in recruitment, retention and promotion at work. Highly commended by panel for demonstrating the value of consultancy as a model for commercialisation in research, and for creating a trailblazing, successful humanities consultancy.
SequenceServer; Tabletop R&D; Su Group; Water Quality Monitoring on the River Chess