Pushing frontiers in space
Andrew Bowyer (left) of Magna Parva with Mark Sims of Leicester University
Leicestershire-based engineering specialist Magna Parva' s contribution to the search for life on Mars has put it in the running for one of the region’ s leading innovation prizes.
The latter has seen the firm help develop an ‘all-in-one’ sampling system that will withstand the exacting temperatures and conditions of Mars to prepare and analyse samples from the planets surface for evidence of life in the form of biological molecules.
This work requires embracing the latest technology in miniaturisation at every stage of the development and offers the company real opportunities to commercialise the innovation in the medical, defence and environmental arenas.
Andrew Bowyer, Director, was delighted at the achievement to date:
“We are delighted to have been selected for the finals of the Lord Stafford Awards and our team of engineers are thrilled that their expertise and know-how has been recognised.”
He continued: “Our relationship with the University of Leicester is a major strength for our business and our collaboration has given us access to complementary technology, highly skilled research teams and facilities including product assembly, integration and testing.
“Going forward, we are keen to continue this partnership so we can take our engineering solutions and transfer them into everyday products that may help with medical testing, soil sampling and contaminated land analysis for example.”
Established in 2005, Magna Parva has enjoyed significant growth and now employs 20 highly skilled people at its new headquarters in Bardon Hill near Coalville, Leicestershire.
From here the pioneering company uses design and assembly facilities to cover concept generation, detailed design, development, testing, integration and validation of hardware during the project lifecycle.
The firm also provides expert consultancy services and this work continues to underpin its more progressive contracts with the European Space Agency.
Professor Mark Sims, principal investigator of the ‘Life Marker Chip’ from the University of Leicester, picked up the story:
“We are keen to develop wider collaborations with local companies as part of our outreach and knowledge exchange strategy and our relationship with Magna Parva demonstrates what can be achieved when we apply the latest academic research and knowledge with commercial opportunities and expertise.
“Whilst the space missions reinforce our considerable international reputation in this field, we are also keen to work with the firm to commercially exploit the ‘Life Marker’ Chip and other technologies in arenas such as medicine, so that the developments and technologies can have an impact on society both nationally and internationally.”
He concluded: “Success in the Lord Stafford Awards will help raise both our profiles and build on our reputation for developing some of the most pioneering technology in not only the world but the solar system.”
Backed by the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), MAS East Midlands, the East Midlands Universities Association and Lincolnshire County Council, the Lord Stafford Awards are designed to celebrate and recognise innovative collaborations between business and universities.
The winners of the awards, which cover ‘Innovation Achieved’, ‘Innovation in Development’ and ‘Innovation in Sustainability’, will be announced at a high-profile finale on September 10th at the Epic Centre in Lincolnshire.
Other sponsors for the event include Ceramic Decals, CFE Ltd, Clever Cherry, Connect Midlands, Enterprise Europe Network and Swindell and Pearson.
www.thelordstaffordawards.co.uk
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