High-tech start-ups awarded in Belfast

Francess McDonnell

A team of pioneering scientists, who devised novel diagnostic tests that could change the lives of people with complex diseases, has been named as the winner of the Northern Ireland’s top high-tech breakthrough award.

The Queen’s University spin-out, ProAx-SiS, beat some of Northern Ireland’s most promising high-tech start-ups to win this year’s top award in Belfast.

The awards, attended by more than 500 people last night, were organised by the Northern Ireland Science Park's (NISP) Connect entrepreneurship programme. It highlights the best emerging talent in the sector which competes for a total prize fund of £25,000.

Steve Orr, director of NISP Connect, said ProAx-SiS won the overall £10,000 prize because its world-class innovation shows "great commercial potential".

Three other high-tech stars that received cash prizes of £2,500 included: ADFerTech, Liopa and Eye-C-3D.

ProAx-SiS is developing diagnostic tests that will enable patients with chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis to be monitored routinely at home or through a clinic.