Cutting-edge ideas honoured at IET Innovation Awards 2016

Organised by the IET, the Innovation Awards celebrate the very best innovations from both industry and academia. Over 300 entries were received, from 25 countries, with each of the categories independently judged by a panel of leading engineering experts in that field. The winners were announced at the prestigious awards ceremony hosted by TV presenter and adventurer Rob Bell.

The winners included enterprising inventions that improve the lives of visually impaired people, reduce malware attacks, increase hip replacement accuracy, combat nuclear terrorism threats, reduce concrete waste, lower R&D costs and improve the accuracy of production processes.

Other winning and shortlisted entries featured ideas that are set to have a game-changing impact on society, improving the way we all live and work.

IET President Jeremy Watson CBE said: “Our Innovation Awards put the achievements of the incredible inventors who work in engineering and technology around the world into the spotlight and play a critical role in helping them further their endeavors.

“Innovation is an essential cornerstone for the growth of the global economy and raising the standard of living in all communities. It is a key differentiator that makes companies and projects successful and, in keeping with the IET’s mission to inspire excellence in engineering and technology, we are immensely proud to recognise, celebrate and show our support for these exceptional achievements.”

The 2016 IET Innovation Award winners are:          

• Communications: Wayfindr – An audio navigation system that helps visually impaired people navigate the London Underground.
• Cyber Security: Glasswall – For a new technology which reduces the risk of malware attacks through document sharing.
• Emerging Technology Design: FlexEnable – A full-colour, low-cost LCD manufacturing process that will improve production methods across multiple industries including wearables, mobile, automotive and digital signage.
• Energy: Arctic Circle Ltd - A low-cost, maintenance-free device that improves the performance and efficiency of refrigeration systems. It can be incorporated into new systems or retrofitted to existing ones.
• Healthcare Technologies: Sonikure Technology Ltd - Low energy ultrasonic technology for non-invasive and needleless ocular drug delivery.
• Horizontal Innovation: Williams Advanced Engineering and Aerofoil Energy Ltd – applying F1 aerodynamics to help supermarket fridges become more energy efficient.
• Information Technology: Bournemouth University and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – A virtual reality simulator for hip replacement surgery to improve patient safety.
• Intelligent Systems: Kromek Group plc - Intelligent radiation detection networks to defend against nuclear terrorism.
• Manufacturing Technology: Laing O' Rourke - Laser verification of complex precast concrete products.
• Model-Based Engineering: Romax Technology – A time and cost-saving simulation software that enables users to optimise their design and development process whilst maintaining quality and accuracy.
• Navigation and Surveillance Communications: Kromek Group plc -Intelligent radiation detection networks to defend against nuclear terrorism.
• Power: UK Power Networks – Soft Open Points, an innovative use of power electronics that enables capacity sharing, voltage control and power factor support which could unlock savings of over £110 million for electricity bill-payers.
• Start-up: FlexEnable – A full-colour, low-cost LCD manufacturing process that will improve production methods across multiple industries including wearables, mobile, automotive and digital signage.
• Sustainability: Samatoa Lotus Textiles - A 100% ecological fabric using lotus stems that would otherwise be considered as waste. The lotus fibre is the only known natural microfibre and is naturally soft, light, breathable and almost wrinkle free.
• Transport: Loughborough University – Repoint, a breakthrough in failsafe rail track switching that offers the potential for increased capacity and reduced maintenance alongside a reduced whole life cost – without the need to build new railway tracks.