Yorkshire’s most innovative celebrated at awards ceremony
YORKSHIRE’s six most innovative organisations were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony in Leeds after beating off stiff competition from across the region.
The Innovator 09 Awards recognises companies and individuals in Yorkshire and Humber who have embraced innovation and developed new ideas, products, technologies or ways of working in order to improve their business over the past year.
The Innovation Catalyst Award was given to Leeds-based Medipex, which provides and facilitates an NHS innovation hub, while the International Innovation Award was presented to Sheffield-based Simcyp, which operates a global consortium to gain industry participation in the development of an advanced modelling and simulation tool to evaluate medicines.
The Knowledge Exploitation Award was presented to York-based Central Science Laboratory. The Open Innovation Award was given to the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation in Bradford.
The Product, Process, Service Innovation Award was won by Yorkshire Water and Keighley-based Slipstream Energy, which develops wind turbines for urban environments.
Jim Farmery, assistant director of business for regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, said:
“We know we have many innovative individuals, companies and partnerships in Yorkshire and Humber and these awards are giving an opportunity to raise the entrants profile with clients and potential new customers, and demonstrate their commitment to being a leader in their field.
“We are experiencing difficult economic times and it’s never been more important to ensure that your business remains competitive through consistently improving your processes, products and services. These awards demonstrate the benefits of developing new ideas, technologies and ways of working in the region through real and successful examples.”
Jonas Ridderstrale, author of bestseller ‘talent makes capital dance’ and guest speaker at the awards, said he was delighted to see such a diverse crowd.
“No one is immune to change and we have gathered here at an interesting time experiments are risky, but it doesn’t mean we should stop trying,” he said.
“You can be the change that you want to see in the world. All the nominees here today are leaders in change.
Mr Ridderstrale said that running a company was very much like getting a marriage to work.
“…at the end of the day theres a moment when the passion begins to disappear and its important to re-energise it every once in a while. That takes persistence – don’t give up – keep on fighting! But also – have fun!”
