Innovation nation
04 May 2010
“An innovation is one of those things that society looks at and says, ‘if we make this part of the way we live and work, it will change the way we live and work’.”
That’s according to Dean L. Kamen, inventor of the product that became known as the Segway; the two-wheeled futuristic-looking transporter with a gyroscope.
That innovative item stands out as something that society has embraced and uses as an efficient transport aid. But recognising innovation is a great skill.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise were recently announced, and these prestigious awards for outstanding achievement by businesses in Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development are presented annually by The Queen, following the advice of the Prime Minister (although we don’t know what he says when the microphones are turned off); who is assisted by an Advisory Committee.
Applications receive a technical appraisal and the very best ones are shortlisted for judging. Each business category – International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development – has a separate judging panel that follow a routine procedure, and judges make their decisions on the merits of the business and then pass the applications to the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee for a final assessment.
There are no set numbers of awards that can be presented each year; that can depend entirely upon the quality of applications, but some of the winners of this year’s awards include:
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2010
• ATB Morley of West Yorkshire for the design and manufacture of high voltage electric motors
• Danlers of Wiltshire for energy saving electronic switches
• DuPont Microcircuit Materials of Gloucestershire for screen printable metallisations used in crystalline silicon solar cells
• Newtons4th of Leicestershire for power analysers used for measuring electric power
• ThorpeGlen of Suffolk for electronic monitoring solutions.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise: International Trade 2010
• Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks Limited of London for its telecommunications systems
• Dart Sensors of Devon for electrochemical sensors used for breath alcohol and toxic gases
• Dynex Semiconductor of Lincolnshire for its high power semiconductor devices and assemblies
• Pace of West Yorkshire for set-top boxes and digital home entertainment equipment
• Racal Acoustics of Middlesex for military communications ancillaries including military headsets
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise: Sustainable Development 2010
Amongst the winners were:
• Recycling Lives of Lancashire for its waste management and recycling programmes that provide employment, accommodation and training for unemployed people
There’s an eclectic array of winners, and disappointingly, there doesn’t seem to be a specific subject in which we’re excelling. But a common theme that running throughout all of these winners, no matter which category they come into, is innovation. And as Kamen says, creating an innovative product and seeing it incorporated into society so that it changes lives, has to be the ultimate accolade.
The Queen’s Awards aren’t the only awards though that everyone wants to be part of. EPD’s e-Legacy awards, taking place later this year, are the recognition for companies offering products or services in eight categories; Medical Advances, Environmental Design, Investment in Education, Contribution to Sustainability, Investment in the Environment, Contribution to Security, Green Manufacturing, and Alternative Energy.
Entries can be made now for all seven awards by clicking here, but the closing date is 30 May. Finalists will be selected by a judging panel that consists of representatives from the sponsors, industry experts and EPD’s editorial team. The finalists will be published in the July issue of EPD so that the readers can choose their favourites and vote online. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London on 9 September. If you would like to be there picking up an award and you feel you or your company has done something that deserves recognition, this is your opportunity. Be innovative, and get voting!
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