Innovation is a team sport 

We were proud to be a consortium partner in Smell Above All: Where the Nose Meets Technology, a UCL-led project funded by EPSRC and NIHR. The work is focused on improving the lives of people experiencing smell loss – a condition that, while often overlooked, has significant impacts on wellbeing, safety and quality of life. 

What was it? A programme of digital smell training, supported by a powerful collaboration across disciplines, sectors and geographies. 

But while the innovation itself is important, it’s the how – the way the project has been built, sustained and shaped – that stands out to us as a blueprint for success. 

What the project is about 

The Smell Above All initiative brings together researchers, clinicians, designers, technologists and patients to explore how digital tools can support people with olfactory disorders. It’s an area that gained increased visibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a significant rise in smell loss as a symptom. 

The team’s work spans everything from sensory research to software design, clinical deployment and user experience – and FCC has played an active role in supporting the wider innovation ecosystem. Our involvement has included: 

• Academic and industry collaboration 

• Contributions to launch events 

• Presentations at academic conferences 

• Input into the White Paper A Call for Action to Enable Digital Smell Care Innovation 

With clinical rollouts planned in Norwich and London, this work is entering an exciting new phase – one that could change how smell loss is understood and managed in routine care. 

What we’ve learned 

One of the clearest takeaways from any collaboration is this: innovation is a team sport. It thrives when people from different backgrounds come together around a shared purpose. It stalls when silos, misalignment or unclear goals get in the way. 

Collaborative projects succeed because they have: 

• A clear shared goal – improving care and quality of life for a specific cohort 

• A cross-sector team – combining clinical insight, technological expertise and user voices 

• A collaborative mindset – focused on learning, iteration and alignment 

• A roadmap to scale – with plans for evaluation and integration into real-world pathways 

From FCC’s perspective, this is exactly the kind of innovation we exist to support – not just technically strong, but strategically grounded, impact-led and partnership-driven. 

The bigger picture 

Whether we’re working on digital mental health tools, XR in clinical education, or innovation management within health systems, the same principle holds: Real change requires shared vision. 

It’s not enough to have a good idea. It must be: 

• Clear in its purpose 

• Rooted in user need 

• Backed by the right mix of expertise 

• Designed with the end in mind 

That’s why we place such emphasis on programme logic, impact planning and stakeholder alignment in our innovation management work. Because when everyone is on the same page – understanding what they’re trying to achieve, why, and for whom – things happen faster, stick better and deliver more value. 

Looking ahead 

Projects like Smell Above All remind us that innovation doesn’t have to be headline-grabbing or high-budget to be meaningful. It just must be built well – with intention, collaboration, and clarity of purpose. 

We’re proud to be part of a project that reflects that, and we look forward to seeing where it goes next.