Winners of the Martin and Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards celebrate Success at Venturefest

Over 120 representatives from the business, technology, research and investment communities in Oxfordshire and beyond gathered at the Ashmolean Museum last night to hear the announcement of the winners of the Martin and Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2011.

These prestigious Awards celebrate innovative and technology-based companies in the region, and were established in honour of Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, co-founders of Oxford Instruments plc. The Woods grew Oxford Instruments from a start-up in 1959, which was Oxford University’s first spin-out company, into a global instrumentation business.

The finalists spent the day exhibiting at Venturefest, one of the premier business events in the south east, before they each delivered a three minute presentation to an audience and panel of expert judges. Following the judging panel’s deliberations, the category winners were announced during a champagne reception.

The Winner of the Information Communication Technology Award was: RealTime Health, who saves millions of pounds for the NHS by helping hospitals to discharge patients fitter and earlier, which means they are re-admitted far less than they used to be. RealTime works by helping clinical teams to change process, using a unique software product that ensures everybody involved in a patient’s care can collaborate on the discharge plan. Jim Gabriel, chief executive officer of RealTime Health, received the Award from judging panel member, Dr Andrew Rickman, founder and former CEO of Bookham Technology Inc and now chairman of Rockley Group.

Runner-Ups for the Information Communication Technology Award were: Constellation Technologies, an IT informatics products and services company delivering solutions to the biotechnology industry sector; and FISCAL Technologies, which provides world class accounts payable audit software for corporations and government organisations to reduce payment costs, protect supplier spend and improve processes.

The Winner of the Green Technology Award was: Nexeon, who are developing a new silicon anode technology for lithium ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries, capable of giving ten times the capacity at the anode, which translates into an overall performance improvement for the battery of around 40%. Scott Brown, chief executive officer of Nexeon, received the Award from Leo Johnson, partner at PwC’s sustainability and climate change practice, and co-founder of Sustainable Finance Ltd

Runners-Up for the Green Technology Award were: Microbial Solutions, who have developed technology to clean up toxic waste metal working fluids, reducing water consumption and allowing water re-use and recycling; and TwentyNinety, who are commercialising a technology which makes solar panels safer and more efficient.

The Winner of the Medical Devices and Healthcare Technologies Award was: Mirada Medical, an internationally recognised brand in advanced medical imaging. The company develops high value clinical software applications, which are used across diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, tumour board and elsewhere. David McCabe, senior software engineer for Mirada Medical, received the Award from judging panel member, Lynn Shepherd, group director of communications at Oxford Instruments plc.

Runners-Up for the Medical Devices and Healthcare Technologies Award were: APA Parafricta, whose vision is to improve the quality of life for people suffering unnecessary pain and discomfort from fragile skin, chronic wounds or sores caused by immobility; and RealTime Health.

Mirada Medical was selected from the winners of the three Award categories to receive the additional accolade of the Martin & Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards Overall Winner 2011. David McCabe, senior software engineer at Mirada Medical received the Overall Winner Award from Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood.

Don McLaverty is joint managing director of the Innovation Services division at Oxford Innovation, which organises the Awards. He said: “We congratulate the Winners of the Martin & Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2011, who were selected from a range of very high quality entries. We would also like to acknowledge the achievements of everyone who entered these Awards, which showcased a wealth of innovation and entrepreneurial talent in companies and individuals in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.”

The winners benefit from a package of prizes worth £5,000 per category, donated by support organisations that provide valuable services to early-stage businesses, which includes the offer of free office space for a year in one of Oxford Innovation’s centres.

The Martin & Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2011 were supported by B4 Magazine, Connections @ Trafalgar Square, HR Advantage, One Ltd, Oxford Investment Opportunity Network and Right Angle Consultants.

Photo: David McCabe, senior software engineer, accepting the Overall Winner Award for Mirada Medical from Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood