WIREDGOV

A vibrant mix of small companies who have pitched their technologies and businessplans at a showcase event at Sci-Tech Daresbury are on their way to securing the funding they need to get their innovative ideas off the ground.

The Materials and Manufacturing Launchpad North West Showcase, held at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, 6 November 2013, was an opportunity to showcase their companies, ideas and innovations in front of an impressive mix of business angels and venture capitalists, all looking for the best new ideas and technologies to invest in.

The companies, participants in the Technology Strategy Board’s (TSB) Launchpad funding competition, were seeking match-funding in order to be able to receive their TSB grants and positioning themselves to access growth finance to exploit the results of their projects in the future.

12 winning companies and one shortlisted company put forward their concepts with applications in a variety of sectors spanning water treatment, software development, nutrition, additive manufacturing technology (3D printing), materials and nanomaterials. Examples included ArcisAltos, which is developing a ground breaking technology to aid DNA testing processes, AeroDNA, which is creating a new cloud-based supply chain software solution for high value manufacturing businesses and Teknisolar, which is applying techniques from the glass industry to develop the highest performing solar panel manufacturing lines in the industry.

Through the Materials and Manufacturing North West Launchpad competition, the Technology Strategy Board is investing up to £1.5 million with the focus on the cluster of businesses in and around Sci-Tech Daresbury and the Runcorn Heath Business and Technical Park. The aim of the Launchpad is to accelerate business projects towards commercial success by drawing investment and people with innovative ideas into the area. The funding helps research and development projects and, with the support of STFC as cluster champion, the growth of their businesses through wider network connections and access to the investor community.

Ian Tracey, Head of Entrepreneurship at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), said: “The event was a melting pot of exciting technologies, plans and energy and was the result of a lot of hard work for all those presenting their ideas. We are already getting feedback of likely funding successes as a result of the event, and we look forward to our ongoing engagement with all the companies involved.”

STFC is also the Cluster Champion for the Technology Strategy Board’s Harwell Space Launchpad, working closely with companies in and around the Harwell Space cluster to ensure both the success of the Launchpad and the development of the cluster.

Paul Vernon, STFC’s Head of Campus Development added: “We keep the UK at the forefront of international science research and technology development, and provide a wide range of specialist technical and business support services to promote the growth of high-tech companies. As well as enabling access to world-class science facilities and researchers from STFC and our partners such as CERN and ESA, we offer award-winning incubation facilities, funding streams and networking opportunities. We’ve put together a business support programme, offering practical advice on topics such as marketing, intellectual property and business planning, and made it available to all of the companies shortlisted in the Materials and Manufacturing Launchpad North West competition.”

Nigel Walker, head of Access to Finance at the Technology Strategy Board, was pleased with the event: “The atmosphere at this showcase event in Daresbury was terrific. Not only did the local investment community turn out in force to see some good presentations, there was also a strong feeling of how vibrant this cluster is and how everyone is keen to engage and support each other to help realise the economic growth potential in these exciting companies.”

More details on the Launchpad competitions are available at the Technology Strategy Board website.