The deal involves the provision of cutting edge equipment for the AWRC – which is being delivered with Legacy Park Ltd at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park (OLP). The news comes after the Government announced £14m of funding to develop the AWRC as part of the March 2015 Budget.
The Olympic Legacy Park is a joint venture between Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield City Council. Largely on the site of the former Don Valley Stadium in Attercliffe, Sheffield, the park will be home to range of world-class sports and exercise facilities, giving members of the public the chance to improve their health and wellbeing alongside elite athletes and sports men and women.
The signing ceremony with Professor Philip Jones, Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, and the Rt Hon Richard Caborn, took place at the English Institute of Sport within the OLP. The Lord Mayor, Sheffield City Council Leader Cllr Julie Dore and the Master Cutler were also present at the event.
The Sheffield Sharks basketball team were also on hand to demonstrate some of the technology the AWRC will research. Players trained whilst hooked up to sensors that monitor the heart rate, amongst other things, of players instantly.
The AWRC It is set to become the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity in the world, creating ‘innovations that help people move’ in sport, health-care, physical activity and leisure.
Working in collaboration with the private sector at the heart of the Olympic Legacy Park, talented engineers and researchers from Sheffield Hallam will design new products and services from initial concept all the way through to market.
Professor Philip Jones, Sheffield Hallam University Vice Chancellor, said “This news represents another major step towards our vision of developing the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity in the world.
“Toshiba are an internationally renowned organisation whose involvement will be a major asset for the AWRC, the Olympic Legacy Park and Sheffield. Our partnership will also help cement Sheffield Hallam’s global reputation for putting the science into sport and physical activity, creating innovations that help people move.
“The AWRC is already showing how it will become an exceptional asset for the wider region, helping to attract new jobs, investment and new opportunities for local business.”
Mr. Masakazu Kakumu, Corporate Vice President, Toshiba Healthcare Company said “Today is a very important day for Toshiba’s healthcare business as we have established a framework with AWRC to deliver and collaborate in cutting-edge technologies and solutions, ranging from diagnostic imaging systems to wearable biosensors.
“In today’s context of healthcare, healthy living is an agenda of increasing importance. In addition to the traditional care cycle we will also focus on developing innovations and expertise that contributes to the overall quality, comfort and vibrancy of life – for the duration of people’s lives.”
Rt Hon Richard Caborn said: “We are delighted to announce Toshiba as the first major partner for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. The investment from Toshiba will support what is to become the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity, health and wellbeing in the world, and lies at the very heart of the new Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield.
“Through this partnership, Toshiba is not only supporting ground-breaking studies into global health problems and healthcare, it is also backing the Olympic Legacy Park in revolutionising sport and physical activity.
“This is the start of a very exciting partnership to drive forward innovation in health, wellbeing and sport, and we look forward to working with Toshiba on this unique project.”
