Impact case study database

Following external financial investment from two business angels, NIRI Ltd was set up in 2005 as a University of Leeds spin-out company to commercialise research by Professor Russell leading to development of new nonwoven products. As co-founder of the Company, Russell was seconded by the University from start-up to act as NIRI’s Technical Director and assist with the Company’s growth (50% FTE from 2005-2018 and then 20% FTE from 2018 onwards). From start-up, the Company has grown a global client base of 200+ SME’s and PLCs, has completed over 450 projects and is achieving annual revenues in excess of [text removed for publication]. [A] The company employs 20 highly qualified staff and has been profitable from the first year of trading. In 2017, the Company moved to a dedicated 10,000 sq ft. site in Leeds and in 2018 established its first overseas division (NIRI LLC), based in the USA. NIRI’s technical consultancy services have directly enabled numerous SMEs and global PLCs to launch improved or new products, growing their market share and positively impacting consumers. NIRI's consultancy work is conducted under strict confidentiality and therefore a full list of companies is not included, however, the international client base directly benefitting from NIRI's products and services include the defence industry, food and beverage, hygiene and the healthcare sectors, as well as large consumer products and retail brands [B].

In addition to growing a successful technical consultancy business, NIRI has co-funded joint ventures with other innovation companies, focusing on commercial product development. One such development directly linked to Russell's underpinning research, as referenced in Section 2, is SurfaceSkins.

Up to 80% of infections are known to be transmitted by hands, and SurfaceSkins are designed to self-disinfect in the time it takes for another user to contact the surface [C]. The European Centre for Disease Protection and Control (ECDC) estimates that ca. 4.1 million patients acquire a healthcare-associated infection in the EU each year, directly resulting in 37,000 deaths, and contributing to another 110,000 deaths p.a. About 20-30% of these cases are preventable by better infection and control procedures [D].

SurfaceSkins technology was designed and developed by NIRI in partnership with industrial design consultants, Zelo Creative Ltd and led to the formation of separate company, Surface Skins Ltd: http://surfaceskins.com/. Following recent investment in UK manufacturing facilities, worldwide [text removed for publication] have been achieved across Europe, The Middle East, Asia, Australasia and Africa and the supply of SurfaceSkins is underway. [E] The business employs [text removed for publication] people and in 2018, appointed a new CEO to open up international markets. Underpinned by Russell's research on liquid handling behaviour in composite nonwoven fabrics, SurfaceSkins Ltd are a range of innovative hand hygiene devices that help to reduce the transmission of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) in critical areas such as hospitals. The products are compression-activated self-disinfecting surfaces that clip-fit directly on to existing door handles and push plates, delivering antibacterial liquids immediately to the surface on contact. SurfaceSkins are designed to keep the surface free of bacterial contamination and be replaced after 1000 activations or 7 days of use. Since 2014, as a new clinical intervention aimed at reducing transmission, SurfaceSkins have undergone independent clinical testing led by The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which reported significant reductions in surface contamination. SurfaceSkins significantly reduced bacterial contamination by >90% up to six days in use, compared to existing doorplates used by hospitals. [F,G] The clinical impact of the product was heightened further by the approximate doubling in the use of alcohol hand gel dispensers by healthcare workers, following the installation of Surfaceskins doorplates in two operating theatres. [H] Since 2014, a new ‘custom’ Surfaceskins product has also been launched, that gives customers the ability to print hygiene messages, branding or third-party advertising on to the self-disinfecting surface to generate an offset income. This has enabled SurfaceSkins to diversify into the food preparation, advertising, bar and restaurant, coffee, dental and cruise ship markets. The strong international interest is reflected by SurfaceSkins winning the prestigious 2019 RISE Innovation award in the USA. [I]