This Year’s Guildford Innovation Awards ‘Outstanding’, Say Judges

Published on: 19 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 20 Dec, 2020

The Guildford Innovation Awards were hosted online yesterday (December 18) by Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS, eminent Professor of Physics and Public Engagement in Science. Organised by the borough council, Surrey Research Park and Surrey university, they celebrated the achievements of a range of organisations and individuals across the borough.

The Most Outstanding Innovation Award went to Securium, a cyber intelligence company which provides online safety technologies to protect vulnerable people online. Securium was also crowned winner of the Emerging Technologies Award.

Runner-Up for Most Outstanding Innovation was NVH Global, in partnership with the university, which commercialised an innovative and sustainable process to produce green hydrogen from water, reducing energy consumption for waste-water treatment.

A Response to Covid-19 Award was added to this year’s categories in recognition of the tremendous efforts made by organisations adapting quickly to help combat the virus and develop tests or adapt their business to survive by, for example, embracing technologies or taking delivery online.

Prof Jim Al Khalili hosted the online awards ceremony held online.

The winner was Smart Separations, creator of ViraTeq™, a nanotech-based antimicrobial coating for a wide range of surfaces, proven to destroy 99.999% of microbes and viruses, including Covid-19. ViraTeq™ is also used in Smart Separations’ revolutionary Gino™ air-purifying units to destroy airborne microbes.

Cressive DX won the Digital Marketing Award for its creation of The Scorecard for tracking and analysing online paid marketing campaigns.

Virtual Cath Lab was winner of the Innovation in Healthcare Award for its non-invasive imaging service, enabling cardiologists to diagnose and treat potentially lethal coronary artery disease in one visit, without hospitalisation.

The hand-made, frozen Indian food organisation, Mandira’s Kitchen won the Innovation in Retail Award for its significant growth over the past year, pushing recipe boundaries and in packaging and support for the local community.

Real Media Now was winner of the Innovation in the Creative Industries Sector Award for the engaging way it enables gamers to interact with advertisers.

Streeva was named winner of the Innovation in the Voluntary & Charity Sector Award for its technical lead in an industry initiative to automate Gift Aid in all donation methods, leveraging its Swiftaid product to reduce the £700 million that goes unclaimed by charities each year.

Instant Swim scooped the Shooting Star Award for its sustainable training swimwear business, which uses recycled fabrics and ocean waste including plastic bottles and fish nets.

Eduspace won the Young Business Award for its Kidpreneur Club which has been rolled out to primary schools in Guildford, introducing children to entrepreneurship, life-development skills and money management.

The judges rated the level of innovation across all categories as outstanding this year, with a very high number of entries. As a result they nominated several highly commended companies. These include Peoplespace for the Innovation in Healthcare Award, Vidiia for the Response to Covid-19 Award and James Buck at Roome for the Shooting Star Award.

The awards were judged by Cllr Gordon Jackson, chair of the council’s Innovation Board, Louise Punter, chief executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Rob Dunford, director for business delivery, EM3, Omar Ebeid, founder of Zeal and 2019 Shooting Star Award winner and Dr Malcolm Parry, CEO of Surrey Research Park.

Cllr Gordon Jackson

Cllr Jackson (Ind, Pirbright), said: “These awards have shown yet again that Guildford is home to the very best of innovation and entrepreneurship. They have also highlighted the determination of these organisations to develop and grow in the most difficult circumstances. Huge congratulations to them all.”

Caroline Fleming, the university’s interim co-director innovation strategy and head of incubation and enterprise, said: “The high standard and number of award entries this year was phenomenal. Congratulations to the winners, it is a great accolade; the competition was stiff. The highly commended and finalists are all worthy winners.

“We are committed to helping our business community in Guildford and are very proud that there was a strong representation from the university through our student enterprise programme and SETsquared Surrey Incubator.”

Dr Malcolm Parry

Dr Parry was surprised on the night by being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging his significant contribution to Surrey Research Park and the science park community over the past 40 years.

He left an academic post at the university in 1981 to plan, develop and subsequently manage Surrey Research Park, which generates more than £1 billion of economic activity annually.

Co-founder and former chairman of UKSPA (the UK Science Park Association), Dr Parry is also an expert on science and technology parks as instruments in economic development for UNESCO and United Nations Economic Commission to Europe.

He said: “I am truly touched by all the kind words that members of the business community have said about me. My working life, which is soon to come to an end, has been such a pleasure and I am so grateful to have received this award.”

Winners

This year’s Guildford Innovation Awards attracted a record number of entries from companies, social enterprises, charities and individuals. Winners and runners-up are:

Most Outstanding Innovation Award (sponsored by Research & Innovation Strategy of University of Surrey)

Winner: Securium

Runner-up: NVH Global

Emerging Technologies Award (sponsored by Butt Miller)

Winner: Securium

Caring for the Environment Award (sponsored by Dunsfold Park)

Winner: NVH Global

Digital Marketing Award (sponsored by Red Hot Penny)

Winner: Cressive DX

Innovation in Healthcare Award (sponsored by The Whiteley Clinic)

Winner: Virtual Cath Lab

Highly Commended: Peoplespace