Business

A hotbed of innovation

Published 25 June 2010

The University of Brighton is a top breeding ground for research and innovation, according to one of Britain's leading modern-day inventors.

Trevor Baylis OBE, best known for inventing the wind-up radio, was speaking after presenting a prize at the university’s research and innovation awards at the Sallis Benney Theatre in the university's Grand Parade campus in Brighton (last night – Thursday).

Winning new ideas included a device to help people with dexterity problems to open child-proof medicine bottles, and another to prevent children releasing themselves from vehicle seat belts.

Mr Baylis said: "I am genuinely impressed by the work I have seen here and I am very pleased to be associated with such a university. It is a real breeding ground for invention."

He warned all award nominees to protect their ideas and he offered to give advice to staff and students on how to safeguard intellectual property. He said: "The trouble today is that someone's idea can be mentioned on the internet one minute and the next minute, it is being copied and even manufactured somewhere half way round the world."

For that reason, no photographs or detailed information of the winning innovations and research were presented at the ceremony.

Bayliss, Titherley, Pritchard, Goodyer

Left to right: Trevor Baylis, Charles Titherley, Clive Pritchard, Dr Ian Goodyer

Trevor presented the student/graduate award jointly to Clive Pritchard for his Clic-loc medicine bottle opener, and to Charles Titherley for his safety seat device.

The second category, for the most innovative idea for a project with social and/or environmental benefit, was Dumisani Chirambo for his scheme to tackle poverty in rural Malawi by increasing incomes and employment through rice production and export.

Dumisani thanked the university: "Your support will transform the lives of many people in Malawi." Judge Julia Chanteray from The Joy of Business which helps small businesses, said the project had the capacity to bring widespread benefits in Malawai.

The student/graduate entrepreneur award went to Ian Mutenda for his idea to bring fantasy football to Uganda via mobile phones and text messages. He said: "People in Uganda don’t have access to fast-speed internet so text messaging is providing an easy way for people to join in."

He said there was potential for the system to expand into Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. Judges were Dr Ian Goodyer, consultant specialising in helping technology start-up companies, and Phil Green, managing director of MDHub business club and Prism Group which provides management and leadership development programmes. Mr Green said: "The fantasy football idea has fantastic commercial potential and is a worthy winner."

The staff award went to Dr Kath Browne, Leela Bakshi, Arthur Law, Nick McGlynn and Dr Sharif Mowlabocus, for their Count Me In Too project which researches with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in order to explore LGBT lives in Brighton and Hove.

Dr Browne said the team would be using money from their prize to provide bursaries to help members of the LBGT community who feel excluded to attend a Transforming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Lives conference in Brighton in September.

Michael Hobday, professor of innovation management at the university's Centre for Research in Innovation Management (CENTRIM), said research at Brighton was making the news around the UK and abroad. He cited research into ageing, gun crime and MRSA, as examples of studies that were having significant impact.

Professor Julian Crampton, the university's Vice-Chancellor, said: "It was difficult for the judges to choose between the nominees because all were inspiring, but I was pleased and excited for the winners.

"Their research and innovations are destined to make a real difference to people locally and to the wider community."

Chris Baker, head of Economic and Social Engagement at the university, said all the nominees were tackling real issues and real problems: "This evening has made me realise that inspiring research comes from people who are themselves inspired."