The University of Roehampton’s School of Psychology has secured £322,365 in funding through Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme to deliver a new collaboration with Edinburgh-based mental health charity Penumbra.
The three-year project will focus on developing an innovative digital solution to improve workplace mental health and wellbeing. Drawing on advanced artificial intelligence and behavioural science, the partnership will create a personalised, interactive employee support platform offering tailored wellbeing interventions. The ambition is to deliver proactive, inclusive and accessible self-guided support rooted in robust academic research.
The project will be led by Dr Laura Vowels and Professor Cecilia Essau from the University’s School of Psychology, who will serve as Knowledge Base Supervisors. A graduate-level KTP Associate will be recruited to work within Penumbra throughout the 36-month programme.
Dr Jonathan Isserow, Institutional KTP Lead at the University of Roehampton, said: “We are thrilled to have secured our second KTP for the University. This adds momentum to Roehampton’s growing KTP portfolio and marks a strong start to the year.”
Mia Dowman, Director of Business Development and Engagement at Penumbra says: “We’re absolutely delighted to see this partnership with the University of Roehampton come to life through our successful KTP award from Innovate UK. This builds on the genuinely collaborative relationship we have been developing with the University’s School of Psychology, grounded in shared values and belief that innovation should serve people first.”
Dr Laura Vowels, Knowledge Base Supervisor and Programme Lead for the MSc in Digital Health, said: “I’m delighted to see our partnership with Penumbra formalised through this KTP. We’ve been working closely together for over a year, and it has been a real pleasure collaborating with such a thoughtful and values-driven team.”
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable UK organisations to access university expertise and skilled graduates to drive innovation, improve competitiveness and accelerate growth. Businesses interested in exploring KTP opportunities with the University of Roehampton are encouraged to contact Dr Jonathan Isserow at j.isserow@roehampton.ac.uk.