Fujitsu and Nottingham Trent University collaborate to improve the wellbeing and safety

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and leading Japanese ICT company Fujitsu have announced a strategic relationship with the aim to collaborate and explore opportunities to provide a framework for developing a long-term partnership.

This partnership will see both partners significantly and positively addressing some of the issues and challenges customers, employees and students face through a number of wellbeing and safety projects.

One co-creation project already underway between Fujitsu and NTU aimed at helping to address some of the key issues and challenges customers face is BuddyConnect. A simple mobile app solution, BuddyConnect is focused on helping employees plan and manage the mental health challenges autism may present in the workplace. As apps built specifically for tackling autism in the workplace are much rarer, this app puts in place an effective support and guidance infrastructure through easy-to-access information and by connecting those with autism with additional support. The joint collaboration research and development supports the application being deployed to workers and students.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Fujitsu as a strategic partner. This is an exciting agreement which will allow both parties to collaborate on research, teaching and learning activities that will make a positive impact on many of the global challenges of today,” said Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University. “Improving people’s health and wellbeing, and providing our students with the best opportunities possible to excel in modern society, is part of Nottingham Trent University’s ethos. By working with Fujitsu, we will be able to drive forward the kinds of innovation and thinking required to address such complex challenges and help shape the future of our society.”

NTU’s partnership with Fujitsu aims to open up wider collaboration with other partners, such as further education colleges, universities, industry, expert and SME (small and medium enterprises) partners, who share their values and are eager to collaborate to make positive change across the globe.

“Technology is transforming Britain and the wider world and has the potential to bring enormous benefits to our society. However, the pace of this change has left many organisations and individuals struggling to grapple with what a digital future means for them. Our Ecosystem approach recognises the outcomes, combined value and positive benefits we can bring to the society by working with partners, academia and customers,” said Andy Seferta, Head of Ecosystem and Analyst Engagement, Digital Technology Services, Fujitsu EMEIA. “We believe digital co-creation offers the fastest and most effective route to encouraging more organisations and individuals to foster meaningful social impact. And our work with universities such as Nottingham Trent University, along with start-ups and other experts and industry partners is a prime example of how industry and academia can work together to benefit a wide range of people, including customers, employees and students.”