“Welcome to our latest newsletter”
CENSIS CEO Ian Reid
A very Happy New Year from everyone at CENSIS.
The last quarter of 2014 was an incredibly busy time for us, particularly with the first CENSIS conference in October, quickly followed by our Special Interest Groups (Spokes) meeting for the first time in November.
We welcomed 100 researchers and industrialists to our first annual Technical Summit for a day of debate and presentations on the state of the art in sensor and imaging systems. A month later, over 130 of you came to one or more of our Spoke meetings to help establish and shape the direction and priorities of our five themed special interest groups, designed to provide a technical steer to CENSIS by identifying a longer-term strategic roadmap we will invest in. The notes from these meetings should now be with you, and our Research Technology and Advisory Group (RTAG), chaired by CENSIS’ Principal Investigator, Prof Steve Beaumont will be meeting shortly to prepare an action plan.
This year is shaping up to be just as busy. I’m particularly excited about our first joint event with another Innovation Centre when in March, CENSIS and OGIC come together for this year’s ITF Technology Showcase to promote the complementary activities, skills and strengths of the companies and research groups in each Centre’s areas of activity.
Read on for more information about the new projects we are working on, and the events we have coming up this quarter. If you have a technical challenge in your business, please contact us to discuss the ways in which we can help support innovation and new thinking in your company.
Finally, we are extremely keen to hear from industrialists to help us review our MSc offering. If you have a responsibility for recommending training in the workplace, please spare a few moments to let us know what you think of our current curriculum and our plans for expansion.
Ian Reid, CENSIS CEO
News
New Challenges: Industry Partner Sought for IoT Exemplar Project
To mark our one-year anniversary in January, CENSIS launched a campaign to find a Scottish-based manufacturing or logistics company to partner with us in a pioneering demonstrator project involving the Internet of Things. This six-month project will give the selected business access to the CENSIS team, its project managers and industry-experienced engineers to work together on a project to develop or improve business processes.
New Projects: Optos and University of Glasgow
Our first collaborative project of 2015 began in January and sees Optos plc and the University of Glasgow join forces to investigate automated artefact detection for scanning laser ophthalmoscopes. Drawing upon the University of Glasgow’s expertise in Bayesian data analysis, combined with Optos imaging expertise, the project aims to enhance the Optos QA process through the development and implementation of an automated image artefact detection scheme that will flag potential faults during the manufacturing process.
New Appointments: CENSIS Engineering Team
Led by Derek Liddle, CENSIS Technical Director, our engineering team continues to grow. Kevin Power joins as Software Systems Architect, while Helen Sandison, Stuart Simpson and Dr Shrawan Jha are our new Senior Engineers. Read more about the CENSIS team and the expertise of our engineering staff.
Skills & Training
MSc Sensor and Imaging Systems: Your feedback sought
CENSIS launched its collaborative MSc in Sensor and Imaging Systems in 2014. Applications are now open for entry in September 2015, and include fully funded places and bursaries for Scottish/EU residents.
It is important to us that the programme appeals to the widest possible audience. We want to hear the views of industry about the MSc, including alternative ways of delivering the programme. If you have responsibility for recruitment or training in your company, or recommend staff for training, please complete our MSc Industry Survey by Friday 13 February.
EngD in Sensor and Imaging Systems
CENSIS also provides funding for several research studentships via our new Engineering Doctorate degree, a four-year programme offered by the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde. EngD is a vocational research degree for people who want to work in industry. Academically equivalent to the traditional PhD, it combines research with Masters-level technical training and MBA courses. It is distinguished by the possibility to create a portfolio thesis of smaller industry-focused projects and emphasised by industry interaction. All projects must have at least one industry sponsor, and research students can spend up to 75% of their time working on-site with a company.
Five studentships are available for entry in autumn 2015, with applications coordinated via the University of Glasgow. Companies interested in understanding more about the benefits of EngD are invited to contact Siân Williams, Business Development Manager for more information or an informal discussion.
Events
You can keep up-to-date with events as they are announced by bookmarking our page or following us on Twitter. Our events include workshops and meetings in a range of subjects relevant to sensor and imaging systems. We also list carefully selected external events of interest to the wider SIS community. New events organised by CENSIS over the next couple of months include:
Architecting 21st century systems: open systems on a closed planet, 4 Feb 2015, Glasgow
Come along for an evening of discussion and debate on systems architecting in the 21st century. We’ll be joining author Hillary Sillitto to discuss how architecting principles and skills might best and most usefully be introduced into the sensor and imaging system community, particularly to benefit the high-profile system-of-systems projects, and into the Scottish high tech scene more generally.
Project Clinic: 10 Feb 2015, Glasgow
The next of our regular Project Clinics will focus on companies interested in exploring the IOT Demonstrator project with us. The Clinic offers an opportunity to meet our business development and engineering teams to explore ideas around this topic in an informal, confidential environment. Book your session with us by completing the enquiry form.
ITF Technology Showcase: 4 March 2015, Aberdeen
CENSIS and OGIC are hosting the Innovation Centre Pavilion at this event from ITF, an oil and gas industry membership organisation of 30 major companies that fosters innovation and facilitates the development of collaborative R&D programmes. With a particular focus on the 10 year life extension period and short term technology solutions that can improve inspection methods for platforms and subsea infrastructure, the Pavilion will showcase the expertise and capabilities of Scotland’s academic and technology SME communities.
Intelligent Imaging Programme: 10 March 2015, Dundee
Organised by CENSIS and the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), this event provides an opportunity to network and hear presentations from a range of leading SMEs and large companies as well as academic researchers, covering everything from imaging hardware to image processing and display and applications in sectors as diverse as medical, media and aerospace. Confirmed speakers include DSTL, Optos and the BBC.
Keep in Touch
Our Twitter feed is busier than ever, bringing you news, innovations, and technology updates. Our website contains new project announcements, and you can register to receive our newsletter and other updates by completing the form on our home page.
And Finally …
Engineering Development Trust (EDT) Year in Industry Graduate Scheme
EDT is an education charity providing STEM enrichment activities to 30,000 young people annually, and its Year in Industry (YINI) graduate scheme provides work placements in engineering, science, computing and business. In 2015, EDT is partnering with Glasgow City of Science to deliver support YINI within Glasgow city. If your company is based in the city, read on to find out how to get involved.