University of Ulster students win top prize at Enterprise Ireland Student Enterprise Awards 2010

Note for Editors

About the Enterprise Ireland Student Enterprise Awards

The Enterprise Ireland Student Enterprise Awards, now in their 27th year, are Ireland’s biggest and longest established third-level student enterprise competition. Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Cruickshank Intellectual Property Attorneys, this is an all island competition that gives third level student teams the chance to explore business ideas and their own appetite for going into business for themselves. It offers an unrivalled prize fund totalling €50,000 in cash and mentor support, for the national and category winners.

This is Ireland’s largest and longest established student competition. On an annual basis we receive over 250 applications for the awards and due to its increased marketing and on the ground activity applications are growing in number and quality each year.

The prize fund of €50,000 includes €10,000 for the winner and a mentor/business coach that Enterprise Ireland will provide to develop the commercial viability of their overall concept. Second and third place also receive a generous cash prize. Four awards of merit are also presented.

In addition, Cruickshank Intellectual Property Attorneys contribute an overall technology innovative award of €7,500 plus €20,000 worth of consultancy service, to aid the students to patent and protect their projects.

Academic Prize valued at €4000 presented to the academic institution/s with the highest quality projects overall.

The Awards create an important opportunity for third level students to work in cross-disciplinary teams, thereby enabling a significant and much needed fusion between the disciplines of Business, Science, Engineering and IT.

Summary Profiles of Award Winning Projects

Profile of Winning Team – Dipsticks - College Entrepreneur of the Year 2010

Dipsticks – University of Ulster - Philip Anderson, Clare McCollum, Gordon Baird, Gareth Shappard & Judith McNally

‘Dipsticks’ is a new innovation for automating and enabling the efficient detection of whether drugs have been added to a drink, known as ‘spiking’ a drink. The new product consists of a strip of paper impregnated with chemical reagents, which give a visual indication of the presence of drugs in the liquid being tested. This provides users with a continual test that is built into the stirrer, convenient and free for consumers.

Most Technologically Innovative Idea Award: sponsored by Cruickshank Intellectual Property Attorneys - €7,500

Ecotent – University of Ulster - Houston Reid, Stephen Cladwell, Terri O’ Kane & Jonathan Garland

‘Ecotent’ is a two man tent constructed completely of 100% biodegradable materials which will solve the problem of clean up operations after music festivals. The main covering is made from jute tarpaulin, a canvas made from jute. Research confirms major ecological benefits - it is 100% biodegradable, it is the fastest growing crop, with a much higher CO2 assimilation rate than trees. And when discarded, jute totally decomposes, putting valuable nutrients back into the soil.

Second Place

Mobilis – Cork Institute of Technology - Myles Murray, Gavin O’ Sullivan & Mark Keane

‘MobilisTM’ is a device for improving the mobility of patients on IV treatment which can give a better patient centric standard of medical care and improve patient recovery time. The team has developed a light weight portable pressurisation housing system. As well as improving mobility and patient recovery time, the device will reduce the health hazard due to bacterial growth and promote a better self image for the patient.

Third Place

Ethical Energy – Queens University - Vincent Murray, Colm Connolly, Cathal Hackett, James Friel & David Crudden

‘Ethical Energy’ aims to design, develop and manufacture products which significantly reduce the unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions found in many commercial and domestic appliances with its first product, the Ecosy. This wood pellet fuelled patio heater aims to extend outdoor entertaining by meeting the needs of commercial and domestic users whilst simultaneously producing lower carbon emissions than patio heaters powered by gas or electricity. The Ecosy combines a high output power, matching and exceeding competitors’ products, while outputting significantly less carbon pollution.

Awards of Merit

Root Zone Nutrients – Institute of Technology Tralee – Donnchadh Walsh

‘Root Zone Nutrients’ is a project to develop and manufacture an environmentally friendly organic disease suppressant and fertiliser typically used in golf courses and horticulture which can help plants develop healthy immune responses and have a much better yield and life expectancy. Working in partnership with a shellfish processor, Donnchadh has developed his product, conducted the field trials and is now actively marketing the product.

Tip Top Cue Tips – Cork University of Technology - Jonathan Howley, Aidan Vaughan, Daniel Henderson & Ronan O’Donoghue

‘Tip Top Cue TipsTM’, is a novel cue tip design that aims to eliminate the use of chalk in cue sports such as snooker and pool – potentially a great aid for both the novice enthusiast and top professionals. Chalk is an out-dated and dirty form of creating friction between the cue and the cue ball, and is the source of many play, hygiene and health problems in the game. The product is aimed directly at the sports of snooker and pool and is intended for use by any player from novice to top professional.

iSpy Tours at a touch – Trinity College Dublin - Stuart Martin, Gary Power, Rory Farrell & Thomas Moran

‘iSpy Tours’ is an iPhone application (app) that provides guided tours of popular tourist attractions in any language. It offers three key advantages over the traditional alternatives; accessibility, flexibility and the wealth of information available. Initially, it will be used to give a tour around Trinity College, giving the group a template application that can be applied to any international tourist destination.

Niche Protein Ltd – Institute of Technology Tralee - Asim Zubair

Asim Zubair is the postgraduate student at IT Tralee behind ‘Niche Protein’. This project involves the production of genetically engineered proteins for use in quality control material of clinical diagnostic laboratories. The project is currently in Beta development and Asim expects to have his product for sale in January 2011.

Two prizes of €2000 were awarded to Fred Scharf, University of Ulster and Brian O’Flaherty, UCC, as the academic institutions with the highest quality projects overall.

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