Printed & Fibre Supercapacitors: Research to Enterprise? (Energy Harvesting & Storage USA 2015)

Two recent research projects, the EU FP7 "Powerweave" and EPSRC (IeMRC) "Rechargeable Printed Power Sources" sought to:

develop fabric to harvest and store electrical energy within a fibrous matrix (EU);

design and fabricate rechargeable printed energy storage components (EPSRC).

Outcomes, and the research to enterprise transition, will be presented.

Darren Southee is Programme Director for Product Design and Technology and an active member of Loughborough University's Design Practice Research Group and the Energy Research Lab. Prior to Loughborough, and following successful product designs in Industry, his academic career includes time as Co-Director of the Cleaner Electronics Research Group at Brunel University. He has an established research record in emerging technologies (Printed Electronics, Smart Textiles), within a Design context, as well as ongoing research and strategic interests in Design (and interdisciplinary) Education. He is also engaged in research related to NPD, design-driven innovation and the global nature of Design.

Loughborough University is one of the top ten universities in the UK with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with business and industry and unraveled sporting achievement. Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute is a £15M facility housing the Sports Technology Research Group, one of the world's leading research groups of its kind and the largest in the UK. The Group has established an international reputation for its work with global brands including adidas, Callaway Golf, Canterbury of New Zealand, Dunlop, Head, New Balance, Nike, Reebok, Slazenger, Spalding, Speedo and Umbro on the design, simulation, testing and manufacture of sporting goods.

Around 50 academics, research associates, technicians and PhD students carry out wide-ranging research including athletic footwear, technical apparel, protective equipment, balls, bats, clubs, rackets and fitness equipment. The track record of design-led innovation and accelerating novel concepts from initial stages through to commercialisation is unparalleled.