Sensor innovation results in national award

Professor Iris Grunwald, from the University’s School of Medicine, is among this year’s winners of Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards. The 50 winners were rewarded for developing novel solutions to major social, environmental and economic challenges. Each winner will benefit from a £50,000 grant, bespoke business coaching, and a suite of networking and training opportunities.

Professor Grunwald is an interventional neuroradiologist conducting procedures in the brain. As the co-founder of Brainomix she helped develop the first AI solution for image interpretation in acute stroke. Other innovations include her work on the world’s first Hybrid-Mobile Stroke Unit, an ambulance carrying a CT scanner that allows diagnosis and treatment at the site of emergency.

Now she has co-founded Nvention Ltd. and is working to introduce new flow sensor technology – an electronic device measuring or regulating the flow of liquids and gases inside tubes and pipes. Their design has potential for application in the domestic, medical, agricultural, and aquatic sectors by regulating the flow of liquid and gases to detect leaks, blockages and contamination.

Professor Grunwald also holds a US pilot’s licence, with both her hobby and profession being heavily male-dominated. She said, “From all these endeavours, I have learned to pay close attention to details, as small mistakes can make a big impact.

“As a woman entrepreneur without sufficient financial backing I believe I cannot make it completely on my own. I am hoping to learn about technological or financial aspects from experts that have an open mind towards innovation and ideas.”

Professor Grunwald is one of five women entrepreneurs from Scotland recognised in the latest round of cohort of winners. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Awards reflect the government’s ambition to give more support to women innovators and business leaders.

The range of innovations from across the UK are vast, from health tech to education and from protecting lives to new ways to play music.

Now in its sixth year, the competition drew a record number of 920 applications from women business leaders, 10% up from last year, reflecting the growing number of women-led businesses in the UK (according to the Rose Review Progress Report 2023, 20% of all UK businesses are now led by all-women teams).

Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK, said, “The Innovate UK Women in Innovation programme is an important part of our many activities to make a real difference to the talent and skills pipeline for UK business innovation by inspiring, involving and investing in greater diversity. I warmly congratulate all the Women in Innovation Award winners and look forward to keeping in touch as they progress.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said, “It’s fantastic to see such strong representation from Scottish entrepreneurs among today’s winners.

“Entrepreneurship is a powerful vehicle for growing our economy – helping to create better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country – whilst also helping to tackle some of our biggest societal challenges. Many congratulations to all the winners, and I look forward to seeing these concepts develop through the support they will now receive.”