Maria (right) receives her prize from Gail Boag, Dean of Edinburgh Napier's Business School
Compostable tableware made from eggshells and a state-of-the-art filtration unit that cuts water use in manufacturing are just two of the innovative products that earned fledgling companies and entrepreneurs top honours at Edinburgh Napier University’s inaugural innovation and enterprise competition, Bright Red Sparks.
The five winners were announced at an awards dinner at the Hub on the Royal Mile and will share £12,000 prize money and £17,000 of legal support from law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn.
Our own Maria Gauci, Teaching Associate in the School of Applied Sciences and founder of Partem Astra Training & Consulting, picked up the Staff Superhero Award. Maria has developed industry-led MSc modules and standalone, intensive lab skills courses to help university graduates secure industry jobs.
The winners in the other categories were:
Going for Growth
uFraction8, co-founded by Edinburgh Napier graduate Brian Miller, which has developed a niche filtration system that reduces water usage and increases efficiency in the production of pharmaceuticals, food additives and other products across a wide range of sectors. The judging panel described uFraction8 as being “well thought out, ambitious and innovative”, commending its creators’ “passion, attention to detail and drive”.
Business for Good
Alterwaste, an Edinburgh-based start-up that’s developing a range of eco-friendly products from waste by-products. The company is currently developing disposable tableware made from industrial eggshell waste under the Colleggtion brand name. The judges said Alterwaste is a “sustainable product” created in response to “market and environmental challenges”.
Bright Sparks
Campar, a concept online booking tool for camper vans and camp sites, developed by Madalina Dichiu. The judging panel said Dichiu had developed “an original idea, playing directly into the sharing economy but with a sound unique selling point that could really transform this particular sector”.
Innovative Intrapreneur
Alex Porter-Smith, founder of video production company High Tide Media, which specialises in providing online visual content for clients including Edinburgh Beer Factory, Hidden Door Festival, Creative Scotland and Rettie & Co. The judging panel described Porter-Smith as a “clear leader, having taken advantage of the opportunities at all stages of her development”.
John Morrison, Shepherd and Wedderburn, said, “The quality of entries in the Bridge Red Sparks competition was extremely impressive. All the finalists deserve to be commended but the winners really stood out as examples of commercially-focused innovation with the potential to stand out in their respective markets.
“Through our ongoing role with Bright Red Triangle, Shepherd and Wedderburn will be supporting all of the winners and finalists in the next stage of their journey through Napier University’s Bright Red Triangle incubator. We wish them all every success and look forward to supporting them in their development journey.”