For decades, the UK Universities are being acclaimed for making the breakthroughs that have changed the lives of people and the year 2018 has been no different. Universities UK, the umbrella group for UK Universities has compiled the Best breakthroughs list of inventions, discoveries and social initiatives from the UK Universities that have had the transformational impact on people’s everyday lives. The list of breakthroughs has been launched as the part of the MadeAtUni campaign demonstrating the benefits of universities are beyond undergraduate teaching. The list is the testament to the difference that UK Universities are bringing to the society being at the forefront of some of the world’s most important innovations & discoveries. The best breakthroughs include development of penicillin, work tackling plastic pollution, the invention of the portable defibrillator, the creation of the internet, the establishment of the Living Wage and ultrasound scans & MRIs.
The less celebrated yet vital breakthroughs that change people’s lives potentially have also been highlighted in the list that includes a new technology turning urine into electricity or flushing toilet without water, research to find the causes of mobile phone addiction, a specially-designed bra to improve the treatment of woman-patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Over 100 UK universities submitted their inventions & some of them are listed below. No ranking has been applied.
| University Name |
Nomination |
| Abertay University |
The first degree in video gaming |
| Aston University |
Faster, safer data connection |
| Birmingham City University |
Pioneer centre for innovation |
| Cranfield University |
Nanomembrane toilet |
| University of Dundee |
Pioneering research for flat screen television |
| Durham University |
Repellent coatings for mobile devices |
| University of Hertfordshire |
Treating people exposed to chemical agents |
| University of Leicester |
Discovery of genetic fingerprints |
| London Metropolitan |
Supporting start ups |
| University of Manchester |
Development of the computer |
| University of Southampton |
Optical fibres enabling internet to span world |
| Strathclyde University |
Invention of Television |
| University of Surrey |
Laser research paving the way for internet |
| University of Warwick |
Research into autonomous vehicles |
| Royal Veterinary College |
Observing flight of mosquitoes to drive the future of transport |
| Teesside University |
Digital innovation within construction sector |
| Nottingham Trent University |
Research into digital technology & gambling addiction |
| Staffordshire University |
First UK University offering degree in eSports |
Professor Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK, said: “Universities really do transform lives. The technology we use every day, the medicines that save lives, the teachers who inspire – all come from UK universities and the important work being done by academics up and down the country.”
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