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News round-up (9 April)

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9th April 2021 about a 3 minute read
Even in a quiet news week there's always something going on in the tech and innovation field. Here are some of the stories that caught our eye...

Could pension fund reform make or break clean energy investment?

An article on the Future Power Technology website notes that UK pension firm Aegon has announced plans to carbon neutralise its pension investments by 2050.

Currently most pension funds are more likely to invest in traditional fossil fuels than renewables. But if that changed it could mean a new revenue stream that could transform the world’s clean energy future.

The article adds that there is also hope that a reformed pension fund sector could help address some of the imbalances in the distribution of wealth.

New wearable aims to tackle head injuries in sport

Wearable tech which measures and tracks head impact force in sport and recreational activities is set to aid research and support informed decisions on the risk of brain injury.

Med-Tech Innovation News reports on new technology developed by start-up company HIT (Head Impact Trauma Ltd.) based at the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator within Heriot-Watt University,

The device clips onto any helmet or halo headband, detecting G-Force and recording impact via a companion app. 

New study into long-term impacts of lung damage after COVID-19

A new national study will investigate the long-term effects of lung inflammation and scarring from COVID-19, says the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) website.

The study, launched with £2million of UKRI funding, aims to develop treatment strategies and prevent disability.

Many people recovering from COVID-19 suffer from long-term symptoms of lung damage, including breathlessness, coughing, fatigue and limited ability to exercise

Using digital monitoring alongside psychosocial interventions in patients who self-harm

A paper in Mental Health Practice highlights the need to do more to address self-harm which sees more than 200,000 presentations to hospital each year in England.

A service evaluation examined the potential for digital self-monitoring of patients’ well-being alongside psychological supportive therapy. 

The evaluation used a series of questionnaires to investigate patients’ use of digital technology to self-monitor their mood, suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviour. 

This method of recording patients’ progress has now been incorporated into routine clinical care.

UK and Singapore universities form alliance on entrepreneurship and innovation

The Gov.UK website has announced a new UK-Singapore Universities Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (UKSAEI).

Its aim is to share knowledge and accelerate collaboration between the two countries and it brings together leading universities including Bath, Coventry, Cranfield, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, King’s College London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester and Strathclyde.

They will work with institutions in Singapore including Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Technology and Design.

 

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