Winners were praised for their pivotal roles in bringing superior products and technical excellence to life. 

The University has developed state-of-the-art, high-throughput analytical techniques that support the development of solutions to consumer problems across multiple business units. The patented approach has led to the discovery of new enzyme technologies, new mechanistic insights and supported the claims of new ingredients and products.

About P&G Euro 2024 C+D Partner Excellence Award

P&G Euro Connect + Develop is committed to recognizing P&G’s best partners bi-annually. This Award is a prestigious recognition given to an exceptional awardee who has made a meaningful impact, brought competitive advantages, and/or demonstrated disruptive capabilities. This award acknowledges the awardee’s remarkable contribution in fostering strong partnerships and collaboration. Through their innovative ideas, extensive expertise, and dedication, they have successfully made significant and sustained contributions. The awardee’s ability to provide value sets them apart as an exemplary partner deserving of this esteemed recognition.

P&G Research and Development (R&D) has a strong heritage of open innovation practices, led by their Connect + Develop (C+D) experts who seek out collaborations to accelerate and amplify innovative solutions.

Long-standing relationship

Professor William Willats, Professor of Molecular Agri-Diagnostics, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: “P&G is an important global strategic partner of Newcastle University and working together we have generated multiple peer-revied publications, significant impact, and funding for more than a decade. The partnership has provided unique training opportunities for PhD students and Research Associates, and continues to do so through the BiSCoP (Bioscience for Sustainable Consumer Products) Collaborative Training Partnership.

“One of the keys to the success of the partnership is the close cooperation it has fostered across several industrial and academic partners across the Northeast including P&G, Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria Universities and the SME Prozomix. By working effectively together and combining our distinct skills, facilities and experience, we have been able to make significant progress in industrial biotechnology that really makes a difference to society.

“Much of the research focuses on developing enzymes that make household care products such as laundry and dishwashing formulations more effective and sustainable. For most of my scientific career I have focused on understanding fundamental biological processes, particularly relating to carbohydrates that are so abundant and important in Nature. I’m delighted to win this award partly because it demonstrates how this fundamental knowledge (and the techniques developed to acquire it) can also contribute to addressing globally-relevant challenges faced not just by individuals in their everyday lives, but also society in general and the environment. Ultimately, the P&G partnership is reliant on the researchers that carry out experiments and generate data. So, it’s also gratifying that this award recognises their hard work, creativity and ability to work so effectively together.”

Adapted with thanks from P&G Research and Development.