Professor Nguyễn TK Thanh awarded the Provost’s Spirit of Innovation Award 2025

The event at Senate House was designed to shine a light on the individuals and teams who’ve had particular impact in knowledge exchange at UCL.

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement). Professor Rees underlined the importance significance of taking UCL expertise out into the world, and the benefits this work brings to our teaching, research and partners alongside significant social and economic impact.

Winners were presented with a certificate, trophy, and funding to host a small event within their department to celebrate their successful knowledge exchange and innovation activity with colleagues.

The Provost’s Spirit of Innovation Award was awarded to Nguyễn TK Thanh, Professor of Nanomaterials and Vice Dean (Innovation & Enterprise) for UCL’s Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS). This award recognises a UCL academic, student or alumnus for their significant commitment to engaging with enterprising activities.

Thanh has helped transform innovation culture in her faculty. She’s opened up funding opportunities, and created a streamlined impact studentships process, and new seminar series for industry leaders, alumni and academics. Passionate about translating research into societal impact, her work has led to several patents and translational grants, including one for using magnetic doped iron oxide nanoflowers in cancer treatment.

Thanh said: “To win this award is fantastic. Knowledge exchange is an integral part of our academic life here at UCL, and it’s wonderful to see a paradigm shift in the number of the academics and students wanted to do more of this work. We’ve taken significant steps to embed innovation opportunities in MAPS, by launching the Innovation and Enterprise prize and knowledge exchange workshops that foster academic-industry collaboration.”