Strathclyde Enters Partnership with World-Leading Sensor Company

Pressure Profile Systems, Inc, which develops tactile sensors to capture pressure distribution as research tools, is investing around £300,000 over five years into a research partnership with the University of Strathclyde.

Three co-funded PhD/EngD students will be recruited to work on sensor-based projects, jointly with PPS and Strathclyde research during the first year of the partnership, which will later be expand into other research fields such as Biomedical Engineering, Design Manufacture & Engineering Management and Materials Research.

Dr. Jae Son, founder and CEO of PPS, said: “We are thrilled about our new relationship with the University of Strathclyde. We envision this as the first step in a much stronger partnership where we plan to establish a talented team of researchers to investigate technology transfer opportunities from our joint research and enable the commercialisation of new, cutting-edge, PPS-tactile sensing based products that make positive impact on the world."

The partnership will be managed by the Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering, part of the Institute for Sensors, Signals and Communications in Strathclyde’s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

Partnership leader at Strathclyde Dr Gordon Dobie, an expert in robotic and embedded systems, said: “The Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering has more than 20 years of experience of novel sensor design and I look forward to applying CUE’s resource and expertise to the development of the next generation of tactile sensor solutions.”

The research will be carried out at the University’s £89 million Technology and Innovation Centre. Centre Director Steve Graham said: “Working on research projects with high technology and innovative international companies such as PPS in our new high-specification laboratories and collaborative working environment is exciting academically, but also an excellent opportunity for engaging with the company.”

PPS and the University of Strathclyde intend to commercialise the research from the partnership into new products through UKRC, Innovate UK, EU and Scottish Government grant schemes.