11.05.2005
Leading local business people were highly impressed by the standard of entries to the University of Brighton’s Innovation Awards 2005. Judge Anthony Bullock of Antwords, and the co-founder of the highly successful marketing firm Designate, commented on Highly Commended entry 'Sugar Spoon' - "I have been thinking about this entry all week. I couldn’t get it out of my head!"
One hundred and fifteen imaginative entries were received for best innovative idea or business proposal - a record number and a reflection of the growing entrepreneurial spirit at the university.
Tension at the awards, held on Wednesday 11 May, was palpable when the highly covetable Innovation award for students was received by Malcolm Jordan (pictured right), a 3D Design student, who received a cheque for £2,000.
Malcolm Jordan’s innovation 'Curvy Composites’, using a process that transforms flexible plywood and mimics traditional solid carved wood, was intriguing on paper but when his product was seen by the judges the effect was immediate. Anthony Bullock commented: "Once you see and feel this creation – you’ll want it. It’s truly innovative with big potential."
The Entrepreneurship award for students was presented to John Turner, for 'T-Bone' - a novel method for controlling road alignment during construction, which saves time and money. John’s outstanding entrepreneurship was in recognising the opportunities presented by a historical concept for 21st century application.
Steve Stark, founder of Totallyradio said: "This is a simple solution to an industry wide problem. It ticks all the boxes in terms of bringing a new idea to market, and has been well researched. This deserves to be a great success."
Professors Andrew Lloyd and Sergey Mikhalovsky, and Doctors Gary Phillips, Graham Davies, Carol Howell and Susi Sandeman won the Innovation award for staff, for a novel device for the treatment of sepsis, the major cause of mortality in Intensive Care Units. Steve Stark said: "This is a clearly articulated idea, with strong medical benefits. It’s simple but with wonderful potential benefits."
The Entrepreneurship award for staff went to Professor Sosabowski and Mrs. Pari Razavi and Mrs. Seija Maata and for their entry, 'The Ministry of Chemistry' – a business concept based on the new media distribution of educational material. Anthony Bullock said: "This has huge possibilities for live performance and media channels, with a laudable aim of reviving interest in chemistry."
The Innovation Awards are organised by the University of Brighton’s Business Services team as part of a continued programme to promote entrepreneurship across the university. The awards align with the beepurple entrepreneurship network, GRIST loans scheme and regional Enterprise Hubs – for more information contact business.services@brighton.ac.uk.
Entrepreneurship Manager Jane L. North said: "Not only was £8,000 in prizes given out, but each winner has the opportunity to work with Business Services to develop their ideas, and with every single short-listed entrant eligible for intellectual property advice from a legal specialist the phones have been busier than ever."
Dr Andrew Toal, Head of Business Services commented "We are encouraged by the massive range of ideas – with proposals crossing creative industries and scientific endeavour. We look forward to supporting the next stage of development of so many exciting projects."
Runners up
The following entrys were Highly Commended by the panel of judges:
Innovation award for students:
Sugar Spoon by Tom Lorton
Entrepreneurship award for students:
Edible Burger Box by Adam Fairweather
Innovation awards for staff:
Wing Mirror by Stefano Santilli
Entrepreneurship award for staff:
Ferric Iron Remediation System (FIRS) by Drs Laurence Hopkinson and Dr.Andy Cundy
from Sussex University.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
