£20k awards to boost innovation in Britain’s sporting goods

[veloriders]

Loughborough University has launched a competition to boost innovation in the British sporting goods and leisure sector. Start-ups and small to medium-sized companies can apply for awards of up to £20K to accelerate the development of new products by accessing the world-leading expertise and speci alist facilities of Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute. This competition marks the conclusion of a highly successful initiative supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation that has helped British companies partner leading sports brands, launch new products and increase international sales.

Previous Gatsby Innovation Award winners include 2Thumb Grip Ltd, a Bedfordshire-based company that has invented a novel grip to help golfers achieve better putting accuracy. The Sports Technology Institute’s independent assessment of the 2Thumb Putter Grip has helped the company build on its credibility with professional and amateur players and boost international sales.
Jaydee Enterprises, a Hampshire-based company sought the Institute’s help in developing a home fitness product that also aimed to reduce cellulite. Collaboration with the Sports Technology Institute has resulted in a new relationship with Reebok Fitness International and independent tests that revealed an improvement in skin smoothness.
Inspired Bicycles, a trials bike designer based in Leicestershire is using the Institute’s independent assessment of a novel bike frame to drive its sales network through North America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
“The Institute has the credibility and resource to boost networking across the sporting goods sector, to help companies become more competitive through innovation,” says Institute Director, Professor Mike Caine. He continues, “The Gatsby initiative has helped us to build service and supply chain relationships between SMEs and the world’s leading sporting goods manufacturers. This aligns with our strategy to make a positive impact on sport through knowledge transfer – a vision shared by our partners emda, the East Midlands Development Agency.

Any stage of novel sports technology or related service will be considered for the Gatsby Innovation Awards, provided a strong case for the commercial potential can be made. Ideas do not have to be formally protected (eg by patent, copyright, design right) but they must demonstrate originality.

The competition is open to lone inventors and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the deadline for applications is Monday 12 April 2010. Further details about the Gatsby Innovation Awards are available at http://www.sports-technology.com/gatsby
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