A record number of staff, students, postgraduates and alumni have entered Bristol University’s 2006 £30,000 New Enterprise Competition. A total of 76 projects were entered and today ten were shortlisted to go through to the final stages and the chance of winning the overall prize.
For the first time this year there is an additional prize for the best social project. The level of entries has again been very high.
Shortlisted projects include: next-generation security for chip and pin terminals; care alert systems for patients with restricted mobility; innovative flood defence products that use the flood water to prevent further flooding; and attentive display technologies that could transform the way theme parks, shopping malls and even car-parks serve their customers.
“We are delighted with the number and quality of entries this year,” said Dr Neil Bradshaw, Director of Enterprise. “We know this competition is an excellent launch-pad for new businesses. For example, Revolymer, last year’s winners, have recently completed a £750,000 investment round. This year we have more students among the finalists than we do staff which demonstrates the quality of ideas emerging from our student base.”
The winners of the 2006 New Enterprise Competition will be revealed at the University’s Enterprise gala dinner on the 6 July.
List of finalists
- Alexander Allen, Undergraduate, Computer Science: Next-generation security for chip and pin terminals
- Ian Anderson and Paul Duff, Postgraduate, Computer Science: Care alert system for people with restricted mobility
- Peter Baille, Sarah Musson and Christian Carter, Staff, Drama, Personnel and Careers’ Departments: Career Enhancement training for University research staff
- William Crawford, alumnus: Concrete Canvas
- Tim Deans, Martin Herbert, Ben Jackson and Robbie McLeod, Mechanical Engineering, EE Engineering and Economics: Strain Train
- Ahmed El Halabi, Postgraduate, Engineering Management: WD Fence Flood Defence Products
- Carlos Fernandez-Aballi, Undergraduate, Engineering Maths: DtecC – Development Technology Consultants
- Stavri Nikolov, Staff, EE Engineering: Attentive Displays
- Renato Salas, Postgraduate, Computer Science: Meebots
- Jon Clarke, Katie Clark, alumni: www.studenthousehunt.co.uk