Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/768723
Held at the Hilton Hotel, the aim of the conference was to inform attendees about the sheer scale and investment taking place at Universities and higher education across the North and the ways in which attendees might engage with said institutions in terms of commercial engagement. We exhibited four University innovations which included our EasyCare Cotton technology, illustrated by a pair of Levis jeans, a 3M respirator cartridge containing PIMs technology and two graphene-based technologies: a flexible, transparent, conductive screen which powered an LED and a conductive graphene ink printed onto a University T-shirt which played sounds when motion above was detected. The event marked the launch of the University Entrepreneurs Challenge 2016 which saw six student companies from Northern universities or HE institutions go head to head in a special showcase which demonstrated the range, diversity and ingenuity of entrepreneurs emerging from our institutions. Four of the six finalists were University alumni and included Amy Win - 4 Lunch, Dr Daniel Jamieson – Biorelate, Paul Delamere - Shindigger Brewing Company and Christina Taylor -The Aim Sky High Company. The awards were judged by a number of leading industry experts and professionals including Martin Henery from Manchester Enterprise Centre. Martin commented: "As good as our 4 finalists from the University were, they were up against some stiff competition which made the task that much more difficult for the judges. The discussion in the judges' chamber was an interesting and lively one but one thing we were all agreed upon was the quality of the presentations and the confidence and passion of the individuals making them. Whether their respective businesses succeed or fail, one thing is for sure, they are all individuals to watch and are certain to make their mark." First prize of £5,000 was secured by University of Chester start–up Heritage with 4 Lunch and The Aim Sky High Company securing 2nd and 3rd places respectively with prizes of £3,000 and £2,000. Amy Win, founder of 4 Lunch, commented: "It was great to be recognised at the event for my work with 4 Lunch. The University provided me with fantastic advice at the start of my entrepreneurial journey and continue to support my endeavours still now, three years after I graduated." Congratulations also go to Policy@Manchester who won the External Relations of the Year category. Over 250 people attended the evening awards ceremony and, with 14 categories ranging from Lecturer of the Year to Research Team of the Year, it was a great celebration of the outstanding teams and people behind further and higher education institutions' initiatives across the North.