At Edge Hill University, collaboration drives innovation. When the Department of Computer Science partnered with Synergy Technology through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), the goal was bold: to help a long-established software company transform into a global, AI-powered technology business.
That collaboration didn’t just modernise Synergy’s products; it led to the creation of a new company, Synaptic Synergy Ltd, and propelled its KTP Associate, Sameer Mushtaq, into a leadership role shaping the next generation of intelligent business software.
A partnership with purpose
Founded in 1997, Synergy Technology Ltd. has long supported UK businesses with tailored CRM, ERP, and accounting solutions. As the digital landscape evolved, Synergy recognised the need to re-engineer its systems into a scalable, cloud-based SaaS platform underpinned by artificial intelligence.
To achieve this, Synergy joined forces with Edge Hill University through the KTP programme, a national initiative connecting academic research with commercial innovation. Edge Hill brought deep expertise in AI and data science; Synergy offered a live business environment and commercial insight.
Appointed as the KTP Associate, Sameer Mushtaq served as the bridge between research and implementation, embedding AI into Synergy’s products and creating a roadmap for long-term transformation.
Turning research into real-world impact
Sameer came to the project with a background in software development and entrepreneurship. After co-founding a successful startup in India, he moved to the UK to complete a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Huddersfield, where he became fascinated by the practical power of AI research.
At Edge Hill, that curiosity found a real-world outlet. Working closely with his academic supervisors and Synergy’s leadership, Sameer helped redesign the company’s software architecture to support automation, scalability, and AI integration. The result was a foundation for a next-generation SaaS platform capable of serving global users.
Throughout the partnership, Edge Hill’s research expertise ensured the project maintained academic rigour while delivering commercially viable solutions, a balance at the core of every successful KTP.
Overcoming technical challenges
No innovation journey is without hurdles. One of the project’s biggest challenges came from the vast datasets required to train AI-based recommender systems. The data volumes far exceeded Synergy’s existing computational capacity.
Edge Hill stepped in with a solution, providing access to its high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. These advanced GPU clusters gave the team the processing power needed to train and test their models efficiently.
The collaboration not only solved a technical bottleneck but also generated new research outcomes. The findings became the basis for an academic paper, with further publications planned, evidence of how practical innovation can inspire new knowledge.
“Working with Edge Hill University through this KTP has been transformative both for our business and for me personally. Collaborating with academic experts has given us fresh insights, innovative tools, and a new level of confidence in applying research-led thinking to real-world challenges.
The collaboration pushed us to adopt a more data-driven, analytical approach, which has boosted our efficiency and confidence in decision-making.
Professionally, it’s expanded my perspective as a leader, personally, it’s been inspiring to see how research and real-world application can come together to deliver tangible results.”
Tony Poole, Director of Synergy Technology Ltd. and Synaptic Synergy Ltd.
From partnership to new enterprise
As the KTP progressed, it became clear that the innovation achieved had commercial potential beyond the project itself. To carry this forward, Synergy Technology established Synaptic Synergy Ltd, a new venture dedicated to developing and scaling the AI-enabled platform internationally.
Given his deep involvement in the project, Sameer was appointed Director of Innovation and Engineering at the new company, continuing to collaborate with Edge Hill as a part-time PhD researcher. His dual role ensures that the exchange of ideas between academia and industry remains active and productive.
Lasting impact and a global future
For Sameer, the KTP proved transformational. It enabled him to evolve from software developer to innovation leader, combining technical expertise with strategic vision. For Synergy and Edge Hill, it demonstrated how academic research can directly fuel commercial success.
Today, Synaptic Synergy Ltd is building on the strong foundations established during the KTP, refining its AI features and preparing for expansion into markets including Australia, India, and the USA.
For Edge Hill University, the partnership stands as a powerful example of how knowledge transfer can create lasting value for people, for business, and for the wider economy.
When academic insight meets enterprise vision, innovation doesn’t just happen in theory. It takes shape, scales globally, and continues to grow.
