Trio of small NI companies win innovation awards

An emphasis on research and development has earned three Northern Ireland companies all-Ireland awards for innovation.

Andronics based in Londonderry, Andor Technology and Fusion Antibodies, both from Belfast, each one a small-medium sized enterprise, picked up three of the four All Island Innovation Awards last night.

Though this year’s top prize of over £10,000 went to overall winner Punch Industries from Cork, whose 'Keep it White' cleaning product, formulated to fight the greying of whites in the wash, clearly impressed the judging panel - as the company also won the Large Business category.

The awards, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, Forfás and InterTradeIreland with sponsorship from the Irish Times and BT, were presented at a gala event in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast.

The event was hosted by Bruce Robinson, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment and attended by the Irish Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern.

Andor Technology Belfast was awarded the prize for its innovative camera for microscopy imaging, while Derry company Andronics found success with its satellite communications solutions to remotely monitor and control fixed and mobile assets, including commercial vehicles and LPG tanks, via the internet.

The use of novel technology in the commercial production of small antibody fragments that act as a carrier of medical treatments to tumours was the basis of Fusion Antibodies’ innovation.

(SP)