Liz Mullis, Partnerships and Business Engagement Manager, Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, has become one of only 10 Business Fellows of the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) as part of a new national pilot help build closer ties between the UK’s leading transport related academic departments and the transport Industry.

The Transport Systems Catapult is the UK’s technology and innovation centre for Intelligent Mobility, harnessing emerging technologies to improve the movement of people and goods around the world. One of an elite network of not-for-profit technology and innovation centres established and overseen by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, their aim is to support business growth, increase the UK’s share of the global intelligent mobility market, and attract investment, creating jobs and generating long-term economic growth.

The ‘Business Fellow Network for Intelligent Mobility’ is a network of experts funded by the TSC and based in academic institutions with strong records in transport research and innovation. The aim is to bring outputs closer to commercialisation and enable academics to increase their industry engagement, entrepreneurship and research impact to support universities to achieve their Knowledge Exchange Framework targets.

As a Business Fellow, Liz will identify high quality research at Lancaster University aligned with the TSC’s focus areas, including connected and automated transport, open data and new mobility services. Businesses Fellows will also help to help understand how the universities engage with industry, government and wider transport innovation ecosystem and establish their current regional, national and international impact.

Lancaster University is one of number of selected academic institutes taking part, which includes Cranfield University, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham, University of Surrey, Newcastle University, University of Liverpool, University of Northampton, University of Hertfordshire, University of Kent and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Head of Academic Engagement Beata Szoboszlai said: “At the TSC we continuously seek to understand what transport relevant research is taking place within the UK in order to connect the experts who are doing this research with businesses who can utilise their knowledge and skills to create new technologies and develop new products and services. The role of the Business Fellow is to act as the TSC’s intermediary within the host university, feeding back relevant research activities, events, calls and funding successes, on a regular basis.

“The Business Fellows we have chosen are active in the knowledge exchange arena, they are already working for a UK university, have a strong understanding of the industry and university interface, current research outputs and track record of successful Central Research and Development and/or enterprise.”

Liz Mullis added, “I am delighted to have been selected to be part of this new network for Intelligent Transport- it’s a great fit with the research at Lancaster University. I am keen to work with all academics across the university to widen opportunities for new contacts and collaborations, bring outputs closer to commercialisation, and enable increased industry engagement, entrepreneurship and research impact. ”

To get involved with the Intelligent Mobility network contact Liz Mullis

Mob: 07970 893132, Email: e.mullis@lancaster.ac.uk

To find out more about the programme and other TSC academic activities visit

ts.catapult.org.uk/academic-engagement/