The inaugural Irish Times awards are showcasing innovation from across the private and public sectors, writes MICHAEL McALEER
FOR ALL the grand plans to create a smart economy and an “innovation island” in the coming years, the inaugural Irish Times Innovation Awards, in association with InterTradeIreland, has set out to recognise companies that are putting those ideas into practice right now.
With more than 120 companies entered, 17 were shortlisted for innovations that ranged from scientific advancements in drug development and revolutionary approaches to tackling childhood malnutrition in developing countries, to streamlined patient referral processes and new eco-friendly disposable towels.
Speaking at the awards ceremony at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, Dublin, on Wednesday night, the Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan, said: “The range of innovations showcased here, from across the private and public sectors, is a very positive indicator of how the knowledge, skills and creativity of our people is being translated into valuable processes, products and services.”
The importance of nurturing and promoting innovative start-ups – and not just from the academic sector – was highlighted by keynote speaker Dr Chris Horn, co-founder of Iona Technologies and a member of the Government’s Innovation Taskforce.
“I believe that while competitiveness is important, it’s not enough. We can’t rely on the US or British economy to lift the Irish economy,” he said.
“We don’t have a monopoly on a low tax rate or on a skilled English-speaking population. We can’t simply roll the clock back to where we were at the start of the decade. We have to foster and create a strong innovative society and economy.
“The role of start-ups is absolutely critical. The debate is how we can create them. Statistics from the US show that only 8 per cent of venture capital-funded companies originated from the academic sector – 92 per cent did not. Our academic sector is important, but it’s not the solution on its own.”
The overall Innovation of the Year award went to Sigmoid Pharma for its development of two new drug technologies, both of which can enhance drug solubility and permeability while also permitting targeted delivery to the site in the body where the drug is required. The result is a convenient, safe and effective product that can convert vaccines and injections to an oral pill format. Established in 2003 and based in the Invent Centre at DCU, Sigmoid Pharma won the Application of R&D category.
Other category winners included Dundalk-based firm Easydry, which received the Green-tech award for its disposable eco-towels. The firm has initially targeted the hair and beauty salon market with its biodegradable towels, which offer significant savings by cutting laundry costs and dramatically reducing water usage. It has successfully established itself in UK and Australian markets.
In the Organisational System/Process category a partnership between Concern Worldwide, Valid Nutrition and Irish Aid won for a new approach to tackling childhood malnutrition in developing countries.
Dublin-based firm BiancaMed won in the Product and Service Innovation category for its wireless sensor technology to monitor sleep and breathing, while the North/South Collaboration category was won by the C-TRIC programme, which aims to streamline new developments from the laboratory to the market place.
In the Public Service Innovation category, Neurolink and St Vincent’s Hospital won for their new online referral system that dramatically cuts waiting times for neurological patients.
The final winners were chosen after presentations to a panel of judges that included: Paul Rellis, managing director, Microsoft Ireland; Barry Maloney, founding partner, Balderton Capital; Liam Kavanagh, managing director, the Irish Times; Liam Nellis, chief executive, InterTradeIreland; and Karlin Lillington, technology correspondent with T he Irish Times.
Congratulating the winners, Liam Nellis of InterTradeIreland said: “To stand out from a field of 120 entries, each category winner had to prove their ability to innovate and advance.
“I’m delighted that these awards have managed to achieve exactly what they set out to do, which was to showcase the best examples of innovation on the island.”
Compere for the evening, Matt Cooper from TodayFM, said that amid the constant feed of bad news, it was very positive to see so many companies not only weathering the financial storm but achieving success. Earlier in the evening several of the shortlisted companies featured on Cooper's The Last Wordradio show, which was broadcast from the event.
Award Winners
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
Overall winner
Sigmoid Pharma Ltd
ORGANISATIONAL SYSTEMS PROCESSES
Winner: Concern, Irish Aid & Valid Nutrition– for the development of community therapeutic care (CTC), a revolutionary approach to tackling childhood malnutrition in developing countries.
Shortlisted: Bausch & Lomb(Ireland) – for creating a new manufacturing process which significantly increased automation, reduced production line-down time and ensured the highest quality standards for the production of contact lenses.
Shortlisted: Bgate Technology Ltd– for designing a unique order-capture and invoicing system that connects buyers and suppliers at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
PRODUCT/ SERVICE INNOVATION– Sponsored by UCD Smurfit School
Winner: BiancaMed– for its breakthrough wireless sensor technology for the non-contact monitoring of sleep and breathing in the home.
Shortlisted: InTime Media– for developing downloadable applications for TV and radio broadcasters enabling audience interaction with programmes via their mobile phones.
Shortlisted: Mcor Technologies Ltd– for a new type of 3D printer that can turn "ideas into rapid reality in a low cost eco-way", allowing 3D modelling from regular A4 sheets.
APPLICATION OF R&D
Winner: Sigmoid Pharma Ltd– for the development of drug technologies that enhance drug solubility while also permitting targeted drug delivery to the location in the body where the drug is required. The result is a convenient, safe and effective product that can convert vaccines and injections to an oral pill format.
Shortlisted: Blue Box Sensors– for implantable brain sensors, used in the development of new drugs for neurological conditions, to test their efficacy in real time.
Shortlisted: Medtronic Cardiovascular– for the development of balloon technology that is a paradigm shift for the angioplasty catheter.
GREENTECH– sponsored by Byrne Wallace Solicitors
Winner: Easydry Ltd– for the creation of its disposable eco-towel, which has sparked a global revolution in industries that depend on a constant supply of clean towels, such as hairdressing, beauty and healthcare.
Shortlisted: TreeMetrics Ltd– for its innovative technology-based system which allows for more accurate and cost-effective measurement of trees prior to harvesting.
Shortlisted: Solarprint Ltd– for its fully printable, patented dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) which is set to lead the way in the next generation of solar power.
NORTH/SOUTH COLLABORATION– Sponsored by InterTradeIreland
Winner: C-TRIC– for the creation of C-TRIC, the Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre, which facilitates clinical research and the streamlining of new developments from the laboratory to the market place.
Shortlisted: Clinical Conduct Associates Ltd– for the development of a revolutionary internet solution for the screening and recruitment of patients on to clinical trials.
PUBLIC SERVICE INNOVATION– Sponsored by Accenture
Winner: Neurolink– for the development at the department of neurology at St Vincent's University Hospital of a streamlined referral process, significantly reducing the waiting times for patients with neurological problems.
Shortlisted: Agri-Food Biosciences Institute and CAFRE– for their unique software solution benefiting the pig industry by providing information on pig carcass quality.
Shortlisted: Dublin Airport Authority– implementation of The Loop, a retail shopping service, which had a significant impact on business.
