Technium Challenge Winners 2005/06
The 2005/06 competition attracted entries from 30 companies and 18 companies were shortlisted to Phase 2 receiving a business support and workshop package to develop their business concept into a complete business plan.
Sponsorship to the value of £44,500 was secured from Eversheds, Abel & Imray, University of Wales Newport Business School, Capital Law, Horizon Digital Media, Strategem and Sony. The competition was also supported by Finance Wales and Entrepreneur Action (managers of the Welsh Assembly Government’s High Growth Starts Programme).
Trace Technologies - Winner
(from left to right) Ernie Edwards & Geoff Fisher, Trace Technologies with Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks, Welsh Assembly Government
Trace Technologies is set to launch the world’s first software package to design and test complex fibre optic harness systems. The company has an exclusive agreement with BAe Ventures to purchase the IP rights to the programme and to commercialise the software programme worldwide. The software will be available for general sale and distribution within the Aerospace and Defence markets and Trace has already received orders for its product from Airbus.
Ruskinn Life Sciences - Runner-up
(from left to right) Samir Patel, Andrew Skinn & Julia Foster, Ruskinn Life Sciences with Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks, Welsh Assembly Government
Ruskinn Life Sciences has developed a unique modified atmosphere and gas controlled workstation for use in medical microbiology, scientific and research laboratories. The company will bring the new ‘AC-TIVE’ branded workstation to the Reproductive Medicine Market to facilitate a major increase in take-home baby rates.
Shakerscope - Runner-up
(from left to right) Dr John Dingley & Dr David Williams, ShakerScope and Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks, Welsh Assembly Government
ShakerScope is a company set up to manufacture a unique patented battery-free light source that enables a range of essential medical instruments to be used in difficult environments. The product uses a single light source with multiple interchangeable instrument heads which enables savings in costs, size and weight. The directors were finalists from over 1200 entrants in the 2005 Medical Futures Awards.
Technium Challenge 2005/06 participants’ comments:
“Trace has been granted the final funding package from the Welsh Assembly Government, this means we can now start trading. We feel that the competition has raised the profile of Trace which cannot be a bad thing under any circumstances.”
Geoff Fisher, Trace Technologies (Winner)
“Big confidence injection to our team. Also a great many acknowledgements from partners and suppliers all over the world. People know we are a serious new company!”
Samir Patel, Ruskinn Life Sciences (Runner-up)
“The competition has helped us to focus our efforts on creating a detailed business plan which has brought us a step closer to making our business a reality. It has also been a wonderful opportunity for networking and learning from the excellent seminars ... our success in the competition has given us a real boost. It is really great to know that we have the recognition and support of the Welsh Assembly Government as well as some of the most prominent members of the Welsh business community.”
David J Williams, ShakerScope (Runner-up)
