OXFORD University has celebrated high-impact research with the first Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation Awards.

The awards seek to recognise exceptional research-led innovations and products at all University levels that are having an impact on society.

The initiative attracted a total of 78 entries, from which four winners were chosen and a further 13 projects highly commended across four categories: team work, building capacity, inspiring leadership and early career success, before an overall winner was selected from the shortlist.

The ceremony was opened by Prof Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the university who presented the prize for overall winner.

This was the Smart Handpumps initiative, a response to water shortages and handpump service maintenance issues in Africa.

Prof Ian Walmsley, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said the awards demonstrated the breadth of enterprising activity.