Two Trinity-nurtured inventions, both emerging from the School of Engineering, have been named to TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025 list: an AI sensor for operating theatres and a new system for data centre cooling.
Akara's AI Sensor for Operating Theatres
Akara, a robotics spin-out led by Professor Conor McGinn, was recognised for its AI sensor. The device merges thermal sensing with AI to automatically spot key events inside operating rooms.
The sensor was initially developed as an internal tool to ensure Akara’s robots could clean rooms quickly, but it became a standalone product last year. This is the second time Professor McGinn's team has featured on the list, following their "social" robot Stevie in 2019.
Professor McGinn said: "We're delighted for our work to be recognised by TIME magazine... Reaching this milestone wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of an exceptional team and our partners, who are all deeply committed to Akara’s mission of developing tools that support nurses and empower hospitals to operate more efficiently.”
Nexalus's Liquid Cooling Technology
Also spotlighted is the technology behind Nexalus, founded by Professor Anthony Robinson and his colleagues. The company's sealed-server liquid cooling system integrates with high-heat data centre electronics to cool, capture, and reuse thermal energy.
This innovation increases efficiency, cuts costs, and helps data centre operators manage heat and reduce energy consumption within a smaller footprint.
Professor Robinson commented: “The recognition by TIME is a testament to the innovative spirit fostered at Trinity and the power of collaboration between academia and industry. Nexalus started from fundamental research and has grown into technology that can make data centres more efficient, sustainable, and capable of meeting future computing demands.”
Vincent Coole, Director of KnEx (Knowledge Exchange) at Trinity, offered his congratulations, adding that this success "will help drive our more recently formed and emerging Trinity spinouts to strive for and obtain global reach.”
The full TIME Magazine list of 300 Best Inventions of 2025 is available online.