19.06.2007
The University of Brighton's annual Innovation Awards, now in its thirteenth year, celebrated the best and the brightest business ideas from staff, students and alumni. This year saw a record number of entries with nearly 100 applications received - over three times as many applications as in previous years. This year also saw the introduction of a new category in social enterprise.
Staff winners of this new prize, Dr Elizabeth Manzanares and Dr Elena Sazhina's, proposed a recycling glass studio which will be open to the public. The judges agreed this simple idea would have wide appeal. Dr Hamid Isfahany's highly commended entry for a learning centre to raise awareness about natural disasters received a special mention. Adam Fairweather, winner in the student social enterprise category, continued the recycling theme with the design of a new, recyclable, durable and biodegradable multi-purpose material.
Professor Andy Cundy, Dr Ray Whitby and Professor Sergey Mikhalovsky won the staff innovation award for 'Nanoclean'. This was truly an inspired example of the practical application of science to solve real life problems according to judges. Nanoclean uses novel methods in nanotechnology and biomaterials to clean polluted water. The student award for innovation went to Adam Heikal who is currently completing his PhD in the field of biochemical analysis. Adam has developed a specialist drug screening process which he has dubbed the 'just add water approach'.
Two staff entries shared the entrepreneurship prize. Ben Wilding won for 'Huitalk', a website to help language students learn from each other. Jessica Moriarty and Dr Maria Antoniou won for 'Just Write', a programme of creative writing workshops.
The current form of chess may date back to the fifteen century, but George Eady (pictured right with his family) has brought it right up to date with his winning entry in the student entrepreneurship category. 'Visual Chess' is a new method for young people to learn and play chess.
The winners will share a prize fund of £12,000, but perhaps of greater use, they will benefit from the experience, expertise and advice of the university's Business Services department.
"I'm looking forward to working with the winners in the future and see them take their products and services to market." said the university's Entrepreneurship Manager Clare Griffiths. "As ever the standard of entries was exceptionally high and I would like to thank all the judges as well as all those who entered the awards."
The panel of judges consisted of Lorraine Bell, East Brighton Business Community Manager and Phil Green, Managing Director of Hub 100 and Ian Goodyer from the East Sussex Enterprise Hub. They were joined by previous innovation award winners Lucy Choules and John Turner and Dr Clifford Conway from the university's Business School.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
