Entries close in less than three weeks for this year's Innovation awards. The awards, which are being held on an all-island basis for the first time, are aimed at encouraging a culture of improved competitive positioning and maximising research and development investment in technology.
The awards are jointly organised in the Republic by Forfas's science, technology and innovation (STI) awareness programme on behalf of the office of science and technology and in Northern Ireland by both InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland.
Five prizes are awarded with an overall prize of €10,000 and five awards of €5,000 for winners in the small business sector, open to groups employing fewer than 50 people, medium business (between 50 and 250 people) and large business (more than 250 people) as well as an award for new technology-based businesses.
The subject of entries in the first three categories must have been developed in the last three years while the final category deals with a new product or service.
One of the most successful winners of an award in recent years was Enfer Scientific, a Cashel-based group that developed a quick test for BSE. The company won both the small category and overall winner award in 1998 and since then has grown into a major company providing BSE testing for the EU and exporting its diagnostic kits to 130 countries around the globe.
Enfer operating manager Ms Riona Sayers says winning the award paved the way for it to export its services.
"Back in 1998 when we won, we would have been carrying out about 9,000 tests for BSE per year. But now we can do that amount of testing in one day and we are currently doing anything between one million and 1.2 million tests per year."
The company is now one of only four groups worldwide providing tests to the EU. It exports nine million of its testing kits every year through a US distributor. In 1998 it employed 15 people but that has risen to 150. Lagan Technologies was a winner in Northern Ireland 2000 after it developed software known as FrontLine, which allows companies communicate with customers via interactive digital television, WAP, call centres and ATMs.
Managing director Mr Des Speed said winning "helped to raise the profile of Lagan significantly with prospective customers, venture capital companies, prospective employees and the business community in Ireland".
Last years overall winner was Xsil, a precision laser and robotics group.
It won after it developed a system that enables semiconductor manufacturers to manufacture silicon used in microchips with greater speed, accuracy, cleanliness, yield and efficiency.
Xsil has also recently won the European Semiconductor New Company of the Year Award.
Companies planning to apply for this year's awards must do so before Friday, September 20th. Application forms can be obtained from Ms Liz Roche at Forfás on 01-6073009 or Ms Diane Dowey, Invest NI on 0044 28 92623262.
Entries are made by completing a short entry form, accompanied by a written proposal of no more than 700 words. A number of entries will be shortlisted and those firms will be invited to submit further details and present to the judging panel at a later date. The awards ceremony will be held at Dublin Castle on Tuesday December 3rd.
The judging panel will be chaired by Dr William O'Kane, research and development director of Seagate Technology Ireland. The judges are: Mr Finbar Costello, director of The Software Vineyard; Mr Donal O'Connor, Cruickshank & Company; Mr Mark Earnshaw, Murgitroyd & Company; Mr Martin Naughton, chairman Glen Dimplex; and Professor Fabian Monds chairman Invest Northern Ireland.
