Episodes

  • #006: World firsts and worldwide impact with SMD
    Apr 10 2025

    In this episode of Invented, Samantha Vassallo, Managing Director of Horizon Works is joined by Paul Davison, Deputy CEO of Wallsend-based subsea engineering specialist, SMD.

    And in a first for Invented, this episode was recorded live at the Energi Coast Regional Supply Showcase in Newcastle, which was organised by NOF, the national business development and membership organisation for the energy sector.

    Operating for more than 50 years, SMD is a true pioneer, and its world-first engineering has helped its subsea partners thrive in the toughest underwater environments, benefit from new capabilities, and grow sustainably.

    Paul takes us through the company’s groundbreaking work, from helping to protect the world’s telecommunications cables through developing subsea ploughs, to creating a cloud-based solution for operating subsea machinery, which could drastically reduce the costs of offshore energy infrastructure.

    And in a fascinating insight into the company, Paul reveals how a culture of ‘boundless creativity’ is embedded into SMD!

    Find out more at about SMD: https://www.smd.co.uk/

    Find out more about Horizon Works: https://horizonworks.co.uk/

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    27 mins
  • #005: Joining the Dots in Offshore Wind with Kinewell Energy
    Mar 11 2025

    In this episode, we are chatting to Dr Andrew Jenkins, CEO and founder of Kinewell Energy.

    This Newcastle upon Tyne-based company leverages AI and advanced mathematics to reduce the cost of offshore wind, through inter-array cable layout optimisation, offshore transmission systems and turbine layout optimisation.

    Dr Jenkins has more than 14 years’ engineering experience working within the renewables sector and has over 12 years’ experience in pioneering offshore wind software.

    In this episode, we’ll explore Kinewell Energy’s journey from a bedroom start-up to a company with an exciting future. We’ll also discuss the challenges of offshore wind farm development, and how the business is partnering with some of the world’s leading energy companies to drive real, lasting solutions for the climate change challenge.

    Find out more about Kinewell Energy: https://kinewell.co.uk/

    Find out more about Horizon Works: https://horizonworks.co.uk/

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    36 mins
  • #004: A Journey Beneath the Waves with Pulcea
    Jan 15 2025

    In this episode of Invented, Managing Director, Samantha Vassallo, is joined by Ian Armstrong, Managing Director of Pulcea - and they’ll be taking you on a fascinating undersea voyage, from the salmon farms of Scotland to the wind farms of the North Sea.

    Pulcea’s roots are in the salmon farming sector in Scotland and Norway, where its expertise in marine physics is used in improving fish welfare.

    Now, the company is applying its expertise to the offshore wind industry: it has developed innovative noise mitigating technology to protect marine life from the effects of construction noise.

    Pioneering new technology, engaging with energy giants, attracting investment, the challenges of diversification… we explore all of this and more during this in-depth episode of Invented.

    Find out more about Pulcea at https://www.pulcea.com

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    40 mins
  • #003: Making the Invisible, Visible with Skin Life Analytics
    Nov 5 2024

    How do we protect our skin health?

    In this episode, we’re going to be putting skin under the microscope, as we’re focusing on the Newcastle-based company Skin Life Analytics.

    Skin Life Analytics’ mission is to revolutionise skin health and it’s making the invisible, visible through the detection of the universally recognised skin biomarker of mitochondrial DNA. They are partnering with cosmetic brands, the sunscreen market and the aesthetic industry to deliver simple, non-invasive skin tests for mitochondrial damage.

    We’ll be hearing from two representatives of this pioneering company; Mark Birch-Machin and Jonathan Brookes.

    Mark is the CSO and Founder of Skin Life Analytics. He is Professor of Molecular Dermatology at Newcastle University and he has pioneered research into the mitochondria’s role in skin ageing since 1995.

    Jonathan is the CEO of Skin Analytics. He has twenty years’ experience in the life science and medical device industry. In a previous role at YorkTest Laboratories, he was part of the executive team that raised millions through the sale to a new private equity partner.

    In this podcast, we’ll be exploring the company’s growth journey as a university spin-out, throwing the spotlight on its game changing technology and really getting under the skin of this groundbreaking business. Mark also shares some of his top tips on how to better your skin health.

    Find out more about Skin Life Analytics: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3s-northumbria-ltd/?originalSubdomain=uk

    Find out more about Horizon Works: https://horizonworks.co.uk/

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    57 mins
  • #002: A Space Odyssey with Ralph ‘Dinz’ Dinsley
    Oct 8 2024

    Welcome to Invented by Horizon Works.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Ralph ‘Dinz’ Dinsley, founder of 3S Northumbria Ltd. Dinz is a true pioneer in the space sector. After retiring from the RAF, he has spent the last seven years specialising in space situational awareness – which means tracking space objects and their operational environment.

    He founded Northern Space and Security in 2017 and following its acquisition by Raytheon UK, Dinz launched 3S Northumbria last year, a company which specialises in sustainable space solutions.

    We’ll be chatting about launching businesses into the space sector and what sustainability means for space. We’ll also be exploring the UK’s space industry and taking a peek into the future.

    Find out more about 3S Northumbria Ltd: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3s-northumbria-ltd/?originalSubdomain=uk

    Find out more about Horizon Works: https://horizonworks.co.uk/

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    35 mins
  • #001: The Rise of the DNA Nanorobots with Jurek Kozyra
    Sep 10 2024

    Welcome to the first episode of Invented by Horizon Works.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Jurek Kozyra, PhD, founder of Nanovery.

    Jurek specialises in DNA nanotechnology, DNA computing, and AI, and has seven years experience at ICOS, a top UK synthetic biology group. He has developed algorithms for DNA sequences, designed and constructed nanodevices in the lab, and led a university biotech spin-out based on his DNA barcoding technology. In 2018, Jurek founded Nanovery to develop DNA nanorobots for disease diagnosis and drug development acceleration.

    We'll explore what they do at Nanovery, find out about the world of DNA nanorobots, learn about how Jurek founded his business and discover what his visions are for the future.

    Find out more about Nanovery: https://nanovery.co.uk/

    Find out more about Horizon Works: https://horizonworks.co.uk/

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    37 mins
  • Welcome to Invented
    Sep 5 2024

    Welcome to Invented.

    My name is Samantha Vassallo and I am managing director of international B2B marketing company Horizon Works.

    In this podcast series, I'm going to be joined by guests from pioneering, visionary companies who have created new, world changing products and services.

    We will be exploring how their businesses have invented groundbreaking solutions, and what impact they are having on society, the environment and industry.

    We’ll be talking to companies who have been at the forefront of innovation for decades and have been real trailblazers in their sectors.

    And we’ll be chatting to start-ups who are operating at the cutting edge of science and technology and are shaping a new tomorrow.

    Above all, we’ll be finding out what makes these businesses tick – and how they’ve made their ideas a reality.

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    1 min