'Coded' fuel wins DTI top prize

Posted on Friday 31 March 2006

Of the 320 KTP programmes reviewed for the 2005 competition, nine were presented with awards at the ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London and congratulated by Trade and Industry Secretary, Alan Johnson. The partnership between Authentix and the University of York took top honours.

KTP programmes help businesses and universities to benefit from each other's strengths. Businesses are able to access academic insight and universities gain experience of the operational and research challenges companies face. The Authentix/University of York KTP was focused on technology to help to prevent fuel smuggling and adulteration, though the technology could also be applied to other industries.

Ian Eastwood, Chief Technology Officer at Authentix, said: "Fuel smuggling and adulteration can reduce a country's fiscal tax revenues meaning there's less money to pay for projects like roads or schools. Adulterated fuel can also harm the environment. It's gratifying to use groundbreaking authentication technology developed in a collaborative environment to defeat smugglers."

The Authentix/University of York Knowledge Transfer Partnership employed Dr Mohammed Al-Jafari in this project, which built on cutting edge research developments in nanotechnology and Analytical Science. Dr Al-Jafari worked on-site at Authentix, while being supervised by Professor David Goodall and Dr Ed Bergström from the University's Department of Chemistry. The two-year partnership's achievements included:

• The development of a prototype microfluidic testing device
• Two patents
• The development of two authentication devices that resulted in two pharmaceutical contracts worth more than £1M

The success of this project shows the University of York as a dynamic centre for industrial collaboration and a place to conduct highly relevant research into problems from the real world

Professor Goodall

The Authentix/University of York KTP also helped Dr Al-Jafari obtain valuable professional experience before joining United Pharmaceuticals in Jordan as Deputy General Manager.

Professor Goodall said: "Through our collaboration with Authentix we have gained a better understanding of the commercial drivers for novel instrumentation in Analytical Science, and the stages in product design and development. The success of this project shows the University of York as a dynamic centre for industrial collaboration and a place to conduct highly relevant research into problems from the real world."

Simon Newton, Director of the University of York's Enterprise and Innovation Office which managed the KTP, said: "This award recognizes the contribution of Authentix, Mohammed Al-Jafari and the University in driving innovation and improving profitability."

The Authentix/University of York collaboration will continue with a new KTP which advances the work initiated in the first programme. The current programme focuses on taking the prototype microfluidic device from a lab setting to the marketplace through the creation of a prototype production version.