30 Best New British Innovations
The iawards were launched by the Government to recognise and celebrate the best of British innovation in science and technology and the shortlist of finalists has been announced, with the winners to be revealed on 16th November.
London, UK (PRWEB) November 14, 2009 -- The iawards were launched by the Government to recognise and celebrate the best of British innovation in science and technology and the shortlist of finalists has been announced, with the winners to be revealed on 16th November.
They are the first awards of their kind to be backed by the British government, working in partnership with leading entrepreneur James Caan. The awards will showcase new technologies and innovations, highlighting how they can translate into practical products and services that improve our daily lives.
The Government believes that the time is right for the iawards. During a downturn, businesses that continue to innovate will be best-placed to take advantage of the global recovery, delivering economic benefits and opportunities for the UK as a whole. So it's important we encourage enterprise and support British visionaries in science, technology and R&D.
James Caan shares the view that firms that invest in R&D will be best-placed to survive and thrive during the current recession - and that innovation will be a key economic driver in the years ahead.
There are ten award categories in all, and a shortlist of finalists for each award has been chosen. The categories and respective finalists are as follows.
A Consumer Product
MAS Design Products Ltd One Touch is the first automatic, hands-free jar opener. trueCall Ltd's trueCall device blocks all nuisance telephone calls. Unilever R&D's Pureit water purifier protects from all water-borne diseases.
Best British Inside
Alumet Systems (UK) Ltd's ABLE Facade System builds pre-fab lightweight explosive-resistant buildings. DigePrint Ltd's LumeJet digital print processor sprays light instead of ink. Ubisense's Real Time Location System tracks people and objects in real-time with unrivalled accuracy.
Best Collaboration
Nottingham Scientific Ltd's next-generation highly accurate 'sat nav' receiver uses free satellite signals. Opal Contracts' Infection-minimising curtain hook helps fight hospital superbugs. Thales Research & Technology (UK) Limited's nuVa software enables media-rich meetings for virtual teams.
Best Technology Start-Up
Horizon Discovery Ltd; X-MAN Model Cancer Patient identifies patients most likely to respond to treatments. i2O Water Ltd's Intelligent Water Control Advanced Pressure Management reduces waste in the water industry. Novacem Limited's Novacem green cement minimises CO2 emissions.
Cross Application of Technology
Legal Advice Direct-Video Conferencing Services Ltd's Information Advice Support Network brings legal advice to remote communities. Metrasens Ltd's Ferroguard uses mine metal-detection technology to safegaurd hospital MRI suites. National Physical Laboratory's Automated Vegetable Harvesting Vehicle improves productivity and reduces waste.
Digital Communications
BigHand's BigHand for BlackBerry smartphones dictation service allows users to record, edit, submit and track content. Mippin's Mippin Buzz Widgets make websites viewable on mobiles phones. Powertraveller Ltd's solargorilla is a tough portable solar-powered device that recharges laptops, mobile phones and iPods.
Energy and Environment
AlertMe's AlertMe monitoring system drives Google's home energy-saving service. AMEE UK Ltd's AMEE UK software maps and tracks users' global energy consumption. Siemens Mobility's Environmentally Friendly ELV Traffic Systems uses extra low voltage technology to reduce costs and CO2 emissions
Entertainment and Media
Cortexica Limited's Cortexica search software finds and tracks images and faces in video. Publishing Research Laboratories Ltd's Intelligent Flatplan is a web-based magazine management system that helps publishers improve efficiency. The Foundry's Ocula 3D film post-production tools improve image quality.
Places to Live and Work
Crest Nicholson's Sustainable Communities building practices will halve landfill waste. E-Stack Ltd's E-Stack Atrium Ventilation System reduces energy consumption by up to 50%. Quiet Revolution Ltd's qr5 Wind Turbine works in urban environments.
Next Big Thing
Argento Diagnostics Ltd's Argento Diagnostics is a combined heat and power boiler that generates electricity. Baxi Group's Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP measurement technology allows laboratory testing of samples to be made in the field. Diverse-Energy Ltd's PowerCube is an environmentally friendly power supply for telecoms towers in remote and developing markets.
The judges for each category include a panel of experts and a chair. From the ten categories an overall winner will received the 'iaward of the year' , chosen by all of the chair judges and Graham Love, Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ.
All entrants in each category were required to specify the British involvement in any innovation, demonstrating that creative thinking and development came from a British organisation or team.
They also had to illustrate how the innovative qualities of the entry relate to at least one of the following challenges: addressing the healthcare needs of an ageing society; increasing international security from tackling global poverty to minimising the threat of terrorism; preserving finite natural resources in the face of population growth and climate change; delivering public services which make best use of new technologies.
The gala dinner and ceremony at the Science Museum in London on 16th November 2009 will be hosted by the UK Government's Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Drayson, and leading entrepreneur, James Caan, star of TV's Dragon's Den.
UK Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: "These nominees represent the best of British innovation and I'm delighted they're getting the recognition they deserve. I wish all of the finalists the best of luck and look forward to celebrating their success at the iawards ceremony."
Caan said: "It's great to see such a high calibre of submissions - and I know the judging panels debated long and hard about who would make it through to the final. Congratulations to all involved - being shortlisted as an iawards finalist is a massive achievement."
For more information on the iawards finalists and their innovations, see a full rundown here: http://blog.iawards.org.uk/iawards-shortlist
###
Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/WmV0YS1TaW5nLVBpZ2ctU3VtbS1FbXB0LVBpZ2ctWmVybw==
|
