BELFAST BRIEFING:THERE IS nothing like the sweet taste of success after you have experienced the unenviable position of being the underdog. Nobody knows this better than the Tyrone football team who won the All-Ireland Senior Football Final after a Herculean effort against the favourites for the title, Kerry.
It is a journey many businesses in Northern Ireland can relate to. But like the Tyrone team, small businesses in Northern Ireland are very resilient and have both the passion and determination to succeed. It is not a question of simply wanting to win - if small businesses want to survive, particularly with the current economic conditions, they must succeed against the odds.
Ten of Northern Ireland's most promising new small firms will step into the spotlight this week when they go head to head to compete for one of the North's top entrepreneurial awards. The 25K award - £25,000 is up for grabs - which is organised by the Northern Ireland Science Park, aims to reward the 10 hottest new intellectual property concepts to emerge in the North.
This year the awards are dominated by spin-out companies from Queen's University and the University of Ulster. Of the 10 start-ups selected to compete for the award four are from Queen's and four are from the University of Ulster.
This year's finalists include two hi-tech start-ups: Affyon Networks from Queen's and AudioSlalom from the University of Ulster.
Affyon Networks has developed what it describes as a revolutionary solution for detecting viruses, worms and other intrusions in the core of the internet. AudioSlalom has come up with a technological solution to help both disabled and able-bodied water-skiing fans.
There are also four new start-ups in the bio-tech category.
The first is Omega which is a joint venture between QUB/Belfast Trust. It aims to deliver increased safety and protection of the patient's airway during anaesthesia. Orthocorp from Queen's University has also been nominated for its technology which facilitates the repeatable manufacture of bone substitute structures mimicking the natural structure of human bone.
The joint venture between Queen's and University of Ulster, Proteocypher, is the third nominee. It provides analytical services to hospital clinicians which it claims could help rationalise the use of high cost drugs. The final nominee in the bio-tech category is from Queen's University. Transtow manufactures seating systems which it says allows wheelchair users to travel more easily on public transport. The final categories in this year's 25K awards feature spin-out firms operating in two other categories - CleanTech and Digital Media.
Queen's and the University of Ulster are both competing in the CleanTech category. Aquasere from Queen's claims it has perfected a simple, inexpensive process for creating water repellent particles. Clean Tech Global from the University of Ulster has come up with a product which it believes will produce efficient and affordable solar disinfection devices.
The final two firms are both from the University of Ulster. Disability Heroes has been short-listed for creating a place where people with a disability can meet and share experiences on the web. The Big World Project offers users the opportunity to buy a word and link it their website.
