Local Innovator Wins Prestigious Award for Business Leadership

Dr Wan Li Low who lives in Wolverhampton, has won a prestigious award for her drive to bring innovation to a Staffordshire based company. Wan Li who is an associate from the University of Wolverhampton received her award at this year’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Awards 2013 which took place in London this week.

Working along with the University of Wolverhampton and Cannock based Odour Services International Ltd (OSIL) as part of a KTP, Wan Li has helped to develop a new generation of non-chemical odour bio filtration systems - the results of which has seen Odour Services International Ltd generate over £5 million of new business. 

As a result, Wan Li has won an award in the Business Leader of Tomorrow category which recognises the talents and hard work of people with the potential to become the next big business leader.

The KTP Awards 2013, are held annually, and are run by the UK’s innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board to honour the best KTPs in the UK.

KTP is a UK-wide programme, organised by the Technology Strategy Board along with 12 other public sector partners. The programme offers the opportunity for three partners - a business, UK university or college partner, and a recently qualified graduate (associate) to work collaboratively to develop a business opportunity or innovative idea. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships allow ideas to be shared more easily between UK businesses and academic institutions.

The KTP Awards 2013 also saw KTPs commended in a number of other categories including: Engineering Excellence, Business Impact, and the Research Council UK Societal Benefit category. The Best Partnership award which was also presented, recognises the partnership that has excelled in the level of benefits achieved by all three participants; and best exemplifies the benefits of collaboration for innovation. The overall winner was selected from 9 outstanding finalists from across the UK.

Dr Wan Li Low, a winner of the Business Leader of Tomorrow Award, said:

“I am delighted to have won a Business Leader of Tomorrow Award as part of the KTP partnership I’ve been involved in.  We’ve embarked on an excellent project together which has produced some great innovations for the benefit of Odour Services International Ltd and the wider industry. It’s been brilliant working with the company and the University of Wolverhampton, and this award really is testament to all of the hard work and time that myself and all of my colleagues have invested in this project.

Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock who attended the KTP Awards 2013, said:

“Knowledge Transfer Partnerships play a vital role in driving the UK’s economic growth. They build strong partnerships between businesses of all sizes and universities, making sure that our expert skills base can reach its full potential.

“The UK is home to some of the most innovative minds in the world, and these awards showcase the talent that is helping us to keep ahead in the global race."

Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said:

“Once again we have been inundated with entries for the KTP Awards 2013, which really do showcase the outstanding and innovative collaborations which have taken place right here in the UK. Having seen Wan Li’s excellent work in delivering innovation as part of a KTP, we have named her as one of five winners of this year’s Business Leader of Tomorrow award. We hope to see her deliver even more excellent innovations in the near future.”