A biodegradable plant-based plastic alternative and an AI driven marketing, PR and publishing platform were amongst the 10 innovations celebrated today at the North East Innovation Awards.
Taking place at the annual VentureFest North East conference, which celebrated a decade of bringing together innovators, the Awards saw a return to an open application process with applications coming in from scores of businesses in each category.
Estelle Blanks, CEO at Innovation SuperNetwork who deliver the event, said: “The businesses shortlisted for the awards are innovating at the forefront of their sectors to develop impactful ideas to help us to tackle some of the most pressing challenges that we face in the region.
“VentureFest has always been about bringing together talent, entrepreneurship, research and ideas. The Awards help us to really celebrate organisations and innovators from across the North East and the winners in each category demonstrate the range of ideas flourishing right here in our region. I extend my congratulations to all of them and eagerly anticipate their future achievements.”
The Innovation SuperNetwork collaborated with key partners with expertise in each category to decide the winners, including innovation funding experts Catax, the headline partner for the awards.
The tenth category, ‘Innovation of the Year’, was selected by delegates visiting who voted for their favourite Innovation Showcase business. The winner, that specialise in hospitality robotics, Spark EPoS, won with 39% of the votes.
The winners are:
University Spinout: 3D Bio Tissues, Newcastle
Category Partner: The Northern Accelerator
https://3dbiotissues.com/
Sustainable Innovation: Chestnut Bio, Newcastle
Category Partner: Northumbrian Water
https://chestnut.bio/
Digital Innovation: Reveela, Newcastle
Category Partner: Infotel UK Consulting
https://reveela.com/
Advanced Manufacturing Innovation: Transmission Dynamics, Northumberland
Category Partner: Sunderland City Council
https://www.transmissiondynamics.co.uk/
Health & Life Sciences Innovation: Scuba TX, Newcastle
Category Partner: CPI
https://www.scubatx.com/
Energy Innovation: Kinewell Energy, North Tyneside
Category Partner: Northern Gas Networks
https://kinewell.co.uk/
Social Innovation: TREAT-NMD, Newcastle
Category Partner: Believe Housing
https://treat-nmd.org/
Inclusive Innovation: Helen Aitchison, Write on Tyne, Newcastle
Category Partner: British Business Bank
https://www.writeonthetyne.com/
Innovation Champion: Paul Butler, North East Automotive Alliance, Sunderland
Category Partner: North East Local Enterprise Partnership
https://northeastautomotivealliance.com/
Innovation of the Year: Spark EPoS, Newcastle
Category Partner: North East BIC
https://www.sparkepos.com/
The day also featured TED Talks Global Emerging Innovator, Adah Parris, Finbarr Dowling, Project Manager at Siemens and Martin Hunt, MD UK & Europe at global sustainability non-profit, Forum for the Future. The theme for the day, was Our Future, Now and explored the technology available now to help tackle society’s most pressing challenges.
Day one of VentureFest North East took place at Boiler Shop, Newcastle and welcomed more than 400 delegates. Day two takes place at The Common Room on Thursday 11th May.
