NORTHERN BUSINESS: Business will save thousands of pounds in operational costs due to collaborations with 80 of the highest achieving physics and technology students in Northern Ireland.

The students have been working on engineering projects with local businesses for six months through educational charity Sentinus. The scheme allowed students with an interest in engineering to tackle industrial problems and learn management tools.

Mr Brian Campbell, chief executive of Sentinus, said it provided an opportunity for top students to gain an insight into the real research and development projects of local industry.

Around 20 of the business solutions developed by the students will be exhibited tomorrow at the Sir William Whitla Hall at Queens University.

One of the money-saving projects includes a device designed to remove the packaging from a 20 kg block of cheese for United Dairy Farmers, avoiding product waste.

Another student project was the development of a pressure measurement system for Belfast-based company, RDF, which manufactures life-jackets for aeroplanes.