What do you enjoy most about working at UKAEA?
The most exciting part of my job is seeing an idea develop from a concept into a technology with real-world impact – to me this is what innovation is all about. It’s incredibly rewarding to help researchers turn their novel ideas into a reality and to enable UKAEA’s expertise to make a difference in multiple industries. That passion and excitement for innovation and making a positive impact is what drives us forward.
How does innovation contribute to UKAEA’s strategic goals?
Realising the near-term benefits of fusion R&D through tech transfer and commercialisation is key to achieving UKAEA’s mission. The Innovation Division supports this by identifying opportunities to advance scientific knowledge and launch novel products and services in fusion and other markets.
A significant aspect of our work has been working alongside various teams to capture UKAEA’s intellectual property and knowledge assets, and to understand their commercial potential. We have been working closely with academia, industry and other research and public sector bodies to explore ways to integrate these innovations into practical applications beyond fusion. This will pave the way to successful technology transfers in sectors such as aerospace, energy and healthcare, helping to realise the near-term benefits of our research.
By facilitating technology licensing, spin-outs, and industry collaborations, we help to drive UK economic growth, job creation and contribute to position the UK as a leader in fusion technology. The commercialisation of UKAEA’s research also aligns with our goal of delivering value for the taxpayer by ensuring that publicly funded research translates into solutions and technological advancements that enhance their everyday lives now, as we gear up to ensure fusion energy is a viable power source in the future.
How is UKAEA leveraging its expertise to create cross-sector impact?
I am proud to say there are various programmes and initiatives at UKAEA to leverage our expertise beyond fusion.
A year or so after joining UKAEA I was a part of the Ten New Pilot Programme, where the aim was to identify at least 10 novel and inventive ideas which have a clear application and market potential outside fusion, within a year. Through this programme, the Innovation Division was created to provide dedicated expertise and a structured approach to technology transfer, ensuring research at UKAEA realises its full potential.
We have a strong pipeline of ideas and projects poised to support future technology licensing and spinout companies from UKAEA. Several exciting microwave technologies are currently in development, with potential applications in non-destructive testing, energy, and telecommunications. UKAEA’s expertise in novel materials and advanced manufacturing extends to aerospace, space, defence and quantum computing. For example, the Special Techniques Group at UKAEA has been producing high-precision optical viewports for the quantum sector. Our capabilities in complex simulations and modelling are making an impact in medical isotope production and fire safety. Decades of advancements in remote operations and robotics are also expected to drive innovation in fields such as space exploration and disaster relief.
We’ve recently expanded UKAEA’s spinout portfolio, with the launch of Fusion Energy Partners, which offers a unique consulting service by connecting clients with global fusion experts.
What role do external partnerships play in UKAEA’s success?
A huge role! Having the right experts involved at every stage of the process [identify, develop, exploit] is crucial to ensuring the successful exploitation of UKAEA technologies and capabilities in fusion and beyond. Experts are helping us determine where our expertise can generate the most impact and understand the different markets and are supporting us develop and scale up our technologies to a state where they are ready to exploit beyond UKAEA.
One of the significant partnerships we have grown over the years is with the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) which has been set up to help “accelerate government’s innovations towards the market, to impact growth and deliver new products and services for citizens”. This partnership has been key in funding a number of opportunities from our pipeline and has allowed us to connect with other public sector organisations to share our learnings in technology transfer and commercialisation of public assets.
What are the Innovation Division’s objectives moving forward?
We will be pushing to commercialise more technologies from our pipeline - watch this space! We’re also working on growing our network to link up and establish more partnerships with industry, academia and the public sector.
UKAEA’s Innovation Division continues to play a vital role in ensuring that fusion research benefits not just the energy sector but also the wider world. As the team advances commercialisation and collaboration efforts, their innovations are opening new possibilities across multiple industries. For those interested in learning more or exploring collaboration opportunities, we encourage you to connect with the Innovation team at innovation@ukaea.uk.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and journey to UKAEA?
My background is in civil engineering, and I initially worked on infrastructure and structural engineering projects in the United Arab Emirates and Sudan. My interest then shifted to technological innovation which led me to pursue an engineering doctorate in innovation management at the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme. The focus was on enabling technology adoption to deliver ‘faster, better, cheaper’ nuclear new build. In 2019, I found a great opportunity at UKAEA to apply the expertise gained in delivering clean energy and joined the Fusion Technologies Group as a Development Engineer before transitioning to the Innovation Division.
What does your role at UKAEA’s Innovation Division entail?
My role is focused on identifying and enabling opportunities for technology transfer and the commercialisation of UKAEA’s technologies, to maximise their impact both within and beyond the fusion sector. The team works on technology transfer, ensuring that the research conducted at UKAEA has tangible real-world applications. This includes exploring partnerships, commercial opportunities, and ways to leverage existing technologies for fusion and other industries.
Our team collaborates closely with colleagues across UKAEA to identify innovations with commercial potential. Once identified, we provide tailored support to assess the technical and commercial viability of these innovations, ensuring they are developed effectively for transfer and commercialisation beyond UKAEA.
UKAEA is at the forefront of fusion energy research, driving technological advancements and fostering innovation. This month, Abeer Abdalla, Senior Innovation Lead at UKAEA’s Innovation Division, highlights her journey and role to help realise the near-term benefits of fusion energy, and how UKAEA is shaping the future of clean energy.
What does your role at UKAEA’s Innovation Division entail?
My role is focused on identifying and enabling opportunities for technology transfer and the commercialisation of UKAEA’s technologies, to maximise their impact both within and beyond the fusion sector. The team works on technology transfer, ensuring that the research conducted at UKAEA has tangible real-world applications. This includes exploring partnerships, commercial opportunities, and ways to leverage existing technologies for fusion and other industries.
Our team collaborates closely with colleagues across UKAEA to identify innovations with commercial potential. Once identified, we provide tailored support to assess the technical and commercial viability of these innovations, ensuring they are developed effectively for transfer and commercialisation beyond UKAEA.
What do you enjoy most about working at UKAEA?
The most exciting part of my job is seeing an idea develop from a concept into a technology with real-world impact – to me this is what innovation is all about. It’s incredibly rewarding to help researchers turn their novel ideas into a reality and to enable UKAEA’s expertise to make a difference in multiple industries. That passion and excitement for innovation and making a positive impact is what drives us forward.
How does innovation contribute to UKAEA’s strategic goals?
Realising the near-term benefits of fusion R&D through tech transfer and commercialisation is key to achieving UKAEA’s mission. The Innovation Division supports this by identifying opportunities to advance scientific knowledge and launch novel products and services in fusion and other markets.
A significant aspect of our work has been working alongside various teams to capture UKAEA’s intellectual property and knowledge assets, and to understand their commercial potential. We have been working closely with academia, industry and other research and public sector bodies to explore ways to integrate these innovations into practical applications beyond fusion. This will pave the way to successful technology transfers in sectors such as aerospace, energy and healthcare, helping to realise the near-term benefits of our research.
By facilitating technology licensing, spin-outs, and industry collaborations, we help to drive UK economic growth, job creation and contribute to position the UK as a leader in fusion technology. The commercialisation of UKAEA’s research also aligns with our goal of delivering value for the taxpayer by ensuring that publicly funded research translates into solutions and technological advancements that enhance their everyday lives now, as we gear up to ensure fusion energy is a viable power source in the future.
How is UKAEA leveraging its expertise to create cross-sector impact?
I am proud to say there are various programmes and initiatives at UKAEA to leverage our expertise beyond fusion.
A year or so after joining UKAEA I was a part of the Ten New Pilot Programme, where the aim was to identify at least 10 novel and inventive ideas which have a clear application and market potential outside fusion, within a year. Through this programme, the Innovation Division was created to provide dedicated expertise and a structured approach to technology transfer, ensuring research at UKAEA realises its full potential.
We have a strong pipeline of ideas and projects poised to support future technology licensing and spinout companies from UKAEA. Several exciting microwave technologies are currently in development, with potential applications in non-destructive testing, energy, and telecommunications. UKAEA’s expertise in novel materials and advanced manufacturing extends to aerospace, space, defence and quantum computing. For example, the Special Techniques Group at UKAEA has been producing high-precision optical viewports for the quantum sector. Our capabilities in complex simulations and modelling are making an impact in medical isotope production and fire safety. Decades of advancements in remote operations and robotics are also expected to drive innovation in fields such as space exploration and disaster relief.
We’ve recently expanded UKAEA’s spinout portfolio, with the launch of Fusion Energy Partners, which offers a unique consulting service by connecting clients with global fusion experts.
What role do external partnerships play in UKAEA’s success?
A huge role! Having the right experts involved at every stage of the process [identify, develop, exploit] is crucial to ensuring the successful exploitation of UKAEA technologies and capabilities in fusion and beyond. Experts are helping us determine where our expertise can generate the most impact and understand the different markets and are supporting us develop and scale up our technologies to a state where they are ready to exploit beyond UKAEA.
One of the significant partnerships we have grown over the years is with the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) which has been set up to help “accelerate government’s innovations towards the market, to impact growth and deliver new products and services for citizens”. This partnership has been key in funding a number of opportunities from our pipeline and has allowed us to connect with other public sector organisations to share our learnings in technology transfer and commercialisation of public assets.
What are the Innovation Division’s objectives moving forward?
We will be pushing to commercialise more technologies from our pipeline - watch this space! We’re also working on growing our network to link up and establish more partnerships with industry, academia and the public sector.
UKAEA’s Innovation Division continues to play a vital role in ensuring that fusion research benefits not just the energy sector but also the wider world. As the team advances commercialisation and collaboration efforts, their innovations are opening new possibilities across multiple industries. For those interested in learning more or exploring collaboration opportunities, we encourage you to connect with the Innovation team at innovation@ukaea.uk.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and journey to UKAEA?
My background is in civil engineering, and I initially worked on infrastructure and structural engineering projects in the United Arab Emirates and Sudan. My interest then shifted to technological innovation which led me to pursue an engineering doctorate in innovation management at the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme. The focus was on enabling technology adoption to deliver ‘faster, better, cheaper’ nuclear new build. In 2019, I found a great opportunity at UKAEA to apply the expertise gained in delivering clean energy and joined the Fusion Technologies Group as a Development Engineer before transitioning to the Innovation Division.
UKAEA is at the forefront of fusion energy research, driving technological advancements and fostering innovation. This month, Abeer Abdalla, Senior Innovation Lead at UKAEA’s Innovation Division, highlights her journey and role to help realise the near-term benefits of fusion energy, and how UKAEA is shaping the future of clean energy.