A joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, Sensor City aims to be a world-leading research centre for sensor technology. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s £15m Sensor City facility has secured a number of new tenants in the fields of sports technology, tele-rehabilitation and cloud platforms.
A joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, Sensor City aims to be a world-leading research centre for sensor technology – and is a key component of the wider Knowledge Quarter Liverpool initiative.
It is expected to lead to the creation of 1,000 jobs in the region over the next decade, nurturing 300 start-up tech businesses.
Body suit
Amongst the innovators joining Sensor City is entrepreneur Terry Nelson, a former Liverpool FC player and paratrooper.
Having endured a series of serious health issues, Terry pioneered the Aqua Running body suit designed to provide a highly effective, no impact, resistance workout in the water.
The suit – the only fitness aid of its type in the world, is endorsed by Santas Real Madrid Medical Services and uses a patented hydro buoyancy system to maximise no impact training in the water.
Terry intends on using Sensor City’s facilities, which include a technology development zone and open innovations lab, to evolve the Aqua Running product further by building sensors into the suit that will provide medical staff with valuable training and performance data.
Flagship research
Also taking up occupancy at Sensor City is Uplec Industries, a North Wales business focusing on the design and development of a range of specialist electronics products.
Headed by managing director, Simon Parry, Uplec will use the facilities to work on its flagship research and development projects, trialling remote physiotherapy technologies to the UK’s healthcare markets.
The project, supported by Liverpool John Moores University and Innovate UK, involves the development of sensor technology that will enable physiotherapy patients to be treated remotely.
Exploiting Sensor City’s collaborative network will also be high on the agenda of third new tenant, Zaiku Group, a technology company specialising in cloud and distributed systems.
Alison Mitchell, executive director for Sensor City, said: “The innovations our new tenants are developing are enormously exciting and each has the potential to be a game-changer in their individual market sectors.