A recent event at Norwich Research Park culminated in the announcement of winners of the Hothouse Innovation Competition 2024, showcasing promising ideas developed by enterprises rooted in research and innovation. The competition, which took place at the end of November, featured various start-up and spin-out companies, each established by researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and students associated with the park's campus.
The overall winner of the competition was iBoxit, a collaboration involving the University of East Anglia (UEA). iBoxit has introduced a sustainable packaging solution tailored for the UK seafood sector, designed to extend the shelf life of fish during transit. This innovation utilises antimicrobial functions to retain freshness and enhance the nutritional value of seafood while being constructed from recyclable materials, eliminating the need for Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) in its supply chain. John Farley, CEO of iBoxit, commented on the event, stating, “Firstly, I want to say what a fantastic event it was. Being one of eight companies pitching some great ideas to the panel of judges was a great experience in itself. But to come out as the overall winner is such an honour.”
The runner-up position was awarded to KNEE3D, a start-up emerging from research collaborations between UEA and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). KNEE3D aims to provide an AI-assisted 3-D imaging analysis suite specialised for knee osteoarthritis, facilitating the early implementation of preventative measures while expediting therapeutic advancements in drug trials. KNEE3D director Tom Turmezei remarked, “I am really pleased to have been chosen by the judges as one of the winners of the 2024 Hothouse competition.”
Another runner-up, PfBIO, is a spin-out from the John Innes Centre, focusing on crop health by deploying a bacteria-based solution to combat significant agricultural diseases. The company has developed a platform called BioSIFT that allows for the rapid identification of beneficial bacteria applicable to specific crops. Dr. Rosaria Campilongo, CEO of PfBIO, expressed her delight at the recognition, asserting, “This recognition adds significant credibility to our vision and strengthens our standing with potential investors and collaborators.”
The competition also featured five other notable finalists that displayed a range of innovative business models. Vida Vodka, derived from UEA research, has introduced a sustainable vodka made from waste bread destined for landfills. PathoProst™ Detect has innovated a urine test to assist in detecting aggressive prostate cancer in men. The spin-out Bioscopic is working on developing compounds inspired by beneficial bacteria found in infants to aid in combating diseases in adults. BirthView has created a virtual reality simulator to model human childbirth, providing clinicians with crucial insights prior to labour. Lastly, Healthium™ has established a digital platform aimed at enhancing the treatment efficacy of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Sheng Qi, professor of Pharmaceutical Material Science and Technology at UEA and chair of the judging panel, noted the impressive standards displayed by the competitors, stating “The standard of pitches and the sheer quality of the innovation on display from the eight finalists was highly impressive.” He acknowledged that the top three placements were awarded to iBoxit, KNEE3D, and PfBIO due to their clear market strategies and potential to address significant challenges.
Reflecting on last year’s competition, TraitSeq, the previous winners, have reportedly made substantial strides while utilising their virtual tenancy at Norwich Research Park. CEO Joshua Colmer highlighted how the event contributed to their development, remarking that “Winning the Hothouse competition really helped our development as a company.” He shared how the exposure connected them with investors and added to their commercial revenue.
Roz Bird, CEO at Anglia Innovation Partnership, which manages the Norwich Research Park, expressed optimism regarding the future of business innovation within the community. Bird remarked on the considerable potential for new business ideas to emerge from the park and credited the competitions and collaborative environment for the nurturing of high-growth enterprises. With ongoing investment initiatives and a robust entrepreneur community, the outlook for Norwich Research Park appears promising, driving opportunities that align with publicly funded research initiatives.
Source: Noah Wire Services