Alumni
Past Winners
Winners 2003 - 2004
Light Blue Optics has developed ground-breaking laser projection technology, which will power a new generation of pocket-sized digital video projectors.
Digital video projectors that produce large, high quality images are becoming increasingly popular, but there are limitations in the technology that make miniaturisation very difficult, preventing projectors from making inroads into the potentially lucrative mobile device markets.
Laser projection using computer-generated holograms (CGHs) represents a compelling alternative to conventional image projection. Video projectors based on this CGH technology are efficient and require only a very few components, which means they can be made very small - and the smaller the CGH, the bigger the image that results. So a tiny projector producing large images could, for the first time, be integrated into a laptop, a PDA, or even a mobile phone.
Light Blue Optics is currently developing links with a number of industrial partners. We welcome contact from companies potentially interested in integrating our technology with their products.
Owlstone
Double-digit growth is forecast in US government spending on chemical detection over the next decade. Recognizing this multi-billion dollar opportunity, Owlstone has developed a unique technology platform that sets a new benchmark for reliable, cost-effective chemical sensing in a wide array of applications... from homeland security and defense to environmental monitoring, transportation and healthcare.
Using leading-edge nanofabrication techniques, Owlstone has created a complete chemical detection system on a chip. A hundred times smaller - and a thousand times cheaper - than other currently available devices, the Owlstone detector overcomes many of the limitations of traditional detection technologies.
By significantly reducing the cost and complexity of building devices to detect specific chemical agents, Owlstone opens up an exciting new world of chemical sensing applications. Smaller, lighter and more versatile than the competition, Owlstone sensing technology takes chemical detection into the 21st century.
Diagnovis
Diagnovis is developing a novel, accurate, affordable and accessible method for diagnosing a range of infectious diseases including malaria, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea. DiagnovIS's core product, a compact automated diagnostic unit, is intended for use particularly in the developing world.
Aidworld Humanitarian ICT
Aidworld's objective is to to develop Information Communication Technology (ICT) services and support ICT communities that contribute to the eradication of poverty, suffering and conflict and to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 target.
Aidworld's immediate goal is to build software that enables Internet access in the poorest countries and most remote regions of the world.
The Aidworld team is supplemented by volunteers whose work comprises a significant proportion of Aidworld's achievements to date. All the current staff began working for Aidworld on a voluntary basis, and the organisation is reliant on the continuing support of volunteers. The organisation has very low overheads and works closely with the University of Cambridge. The relationship allows us to suggest beneficial research topics and access expertise and skilled volunteers from many disciplines.
Winners 2002 - 2003
Enecsys
Enecsys has developed proprietary power electronics control and integrated circuit (IC) technology to pioneer the next generation of power conditioning units for grid-connected renewable energy applications. Enecsys has filed three patents covering the broad platform technology.
Enecsys has drawn up a roadmap to exploit this technology. The first sector that Enecsys has identified is the area of solar energy applications. Enecsys is currently working to identify suitable partners . The first product release is planned for 2005.
Novexin
Novexin is a biotechnology company developing new technologies with potential to radically change the way in which proteins are produced, particularly proteins of pharmaceutical importance. The company was established in 2003 to develop and commercialise novel technology for protein refolding, initially acquired from University of Cambridge. This technology involves stabilisation of unfolded protein, preventing aggregation and allowing refolding to occur under controlled conditions. It offers the advantage of rapid and reliable protein refolding with increased yields and decreased costs in manufacture. Novexin will commercialise its technology via two routes: The sale of laboratory kits incorporating this novel technology and licensing to companies to apply the technology in product development and production.
Winners 2001 - 2002
Cambridge Cell Networks
Cambridge Cell Networks Ltd (CCnet)'s mission is to help pharmaceutical companies to develop better drugs faster. CCnet is a bio informatics start-up company focused on the generation of computational models of whole cells for drug side-effect prediction, through integration and analysis of genomic and proteomic data. CCnet's flagship products are its analysis software and a complementary database, which will be marketed to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Winners 2000 - 2001
Weather Informatics
International experts in the science of long-range weather forecasting, use most recent scientific advances to provide customer-specific products.
Globally, some 70% of all businesses are significantly exposed to weather-related risks, and several trillion dollars of the world economy is estimated to be sensitive to fluctuations in weather conditions.
Weather Informatics uses the most recent scientific advances to provide a wide range of customer-specific long-range weather forecasts and expert consultancy to enable businesses to greatly improve their management of weather risks.
The founders of Weather Informatics are internationally recognised experts in the science of long-range weather and climate forecasting. Their position at the cutting edge of developments in the research field enables them to exploit the very latest progress to meet customer needs.
Splashpower
Splashpower is the convenient new way of powering all your mobile devices without wires, contacts or connectors. It means you no longer need a different charger for each device, and several devices can be powered simultaneously. Splashpower spells an end to hunting for the right charger, finding free socket space or fiddling with connectors, and offers a solution to the power needs of current and next generation portable products. So, cut loose™ and be free.
GrexEngine
Enterprise-class architecture for MMOG design and development
Development tools and fully customisable runtime systems
At the forefront of MMOG and Game-Development research
The primary aims are to provide very high performance, easy-to-use API's, with fine-grained modularity. The GrexEngine not only reduces development time, but also greatly reduces ongoing upgrade and maintenance costs. Almost no experience with distributed systems is required to take full advantage of the architecture. All inter-module communication is non-language specific.
