Cranfield University’s work with Richmond Defence Systems Limited has been nominated for the Innovation & Technical Excellence Award in Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards.
Led by Professor John Economou and Dr Irfan Khan, Cranfield’s has been working with Richmond Defence Systems for the last two years, collaborating on the Falcon Drone project, which focuses on supporting safer operations when countering improvised explosive devices or conducting explosive ordnance disposal.
The Innovate UK KTP Awards celebrate partnership between academia and business, looking at ways graduates, universities and business collaborate to drive innovation.
John Economou, Professor of Defence Robotics and Autonomous Systems at Cranfield University, said: “It’s wonderful to see our work with Richmond Defence Systems nominated for an Innovate UK KTP Award. This kind of applied research is exactly what makes Cranfield so special, our ability to collaborate with industry on projects that have a real-world impact.
“This project has been especially rewarding, as one of our MSc students who worked with us has gone on to a career in the industry off the back of this work, showing how postgraduate education connects skilled people with companies that need their energy and innovation.”
RDS Managing Director Oliver Gilbert said: “Working with Cranfield University has been instrumental in turning an ambitious idea into a successful and innovative capability. The expertise, ideas and collaborative approach brought by the whole team have been invaluable, and we’re delighted to see the project recognised as a finalist.”
The Innovate UK KTP Awards will be held in Glasgow on December 1, 2026.
