The nationwide search to find the UK’s best new inventors has uncovered 10 new ideas that could transform the lives of people throughout the UK.
The Inventor Prize was launched in August 2017 to harness Britain’s inventive spirit and answer some of society’s biggest issues. Ten shortlisted entries, unveiled today, will receive £5,000 to develop their idea and mentoring from Barclays Eagle Labs, who are providing access to facilities and equipment, and individual coaching. The overall winner, announced in September 2018, will receive a £50,000 prize to help get their product to market.
Shortlisted entrants include Nawar Al-Zebari, 27 years old, from West Cambridge who has invented a new catheter, made from smart materials and a simple design. Easy to use and possibly cheaper than current catheters (‘Foley catheters’). This catheter uses ‘shape memory’ to change shape inside the bladder, which lowers drainage and keeps less urine in the bladder, potentially reducing the chance of infection.
In the UK, over 500,000 serious urinary tract infections per year are contracted as a result of currently used indwelling catheters, accounting for up to 40% of all hospital-acquired infections and an annual mortality rate of over 2,000. The estimated cost to the NHS of treating these infections is around £2 billion annually (1)
Inventor’s story
Nawar is a Medical Material Scientist. He wanted to create a new product made out of 'smart materials' that change shape depending on the task at hand. When one of his family members was diagnosed with cancer, Nawar witnessed first-hand the problem with the current catheter system. His relative, who was undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, had a low immune system. When their catheter became infected Nawar’s relative then had to fight the catheter infection, making recovery more difficult. Nawar spoke to colleagues and friends and kept hearing similar stories.
Nawar says: “As a medical researcher, I work with new ideas and innovations everyday. I had wanted to create something using smart materials for some time. When someone in my family became ill, I saw first-hand how the catheter system could be improved. My relative, who was already undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, had to fight off an infection too. I hope by improving the catheter system, I can help patients beat their main health issue without the added threat of a urinary tract infection.”
The further shortlisted entrants are:
- ‘Canute’, Ed Rogers (30) and Bristol Braille team with Steph Sargeant, Bristol. A ‘Kindle for blind people’ developed collaboration with the blind community.
- Smart Gum Shield, Robert Paterson (24) of ORB innovations, Loughborough. A smart gum shield that monitors head impact of athletes, sending an alert to coaches through an app to raise awareness of a potential head injury..
- ‘Gameball Platform’, Neurofenix Limited (Guillem Singla Buxarrais, Co-founder and CEO), London. An easy-to-use hand training device or Gameball connected to tablet application to make stroke rehabilitation affordable and engaging.
- ‘Aergo - Responsive Postural Support’, Hsin-Hua Yu (Sheana) 28 years old, of Aergo, Battersea, London. A new seating system that provides bespoke posture support for young wheelchair users.
- ‘The Unity Door Handle’, Connor Peter Musoke-Jones (21), Brunel, London. An inclusive door handle developed in collaboration with people with various hand and arm disabilities.
- New Medical device , Dr Tsong Kwong of GWMV Ltd (37), Enfield, London. An alternative approach in the field of medicine to benefit practitioners and healthcare systems.
- ‘NuCath’ by Nawar Al-Zebari of Urologic (27), West Cambridge. A new catheter made from smart materials to reduce urinary tract infections.
- ‘Spacelink’ by Mark Singleton (60s), Director of Startlink Systems Ltd, Malvern, West Midlands. A green building material that can be mass-produced, made possible by joining fibreglass box and tube without metal or adhesive in a new way.
- ‘Smart Carbon Monoxide Detector’ by Billy Mitchell (60s), Director of Smart Compliance, Bellshill, Scotland. This invention uses mobile phone technology to self-test and send a report on Carbon Monoxide levels to landlords.
Business secretary Greg Clark congratulated the shortlisted inventors: “Innovation is the lifeblood of the economy. Through our Industrial Strategy and the Inventor Prize, we want to help turn incredible ideas into products available to everyone.
“The Inventor Prize has shown that there are hundreds of people across Britain with brilliant ideas for game-changing technology that could address some of the biggest societal issues that we face today. The shortlisted inventors are all passionate about their ideas and I am very much looking forward to seeing their inventions in action.”
Constance Agyeman, Head of International Development and Communities, at Nesta commented:“People often come up with great ideas when they are trying to solve everyday challenges.
"The Inventor Prize is there to help those grassroots and garden shed inventors to get the funding and expertise to bring their idea to life.
“Our finalists have all addressed important issues from making daily life easier for people with disabilities to easing pressure on GPs - potentially benefiting not just individuals but the wider economy too.”
The finalists will use their £5000 award and bespoke support from Barclays Eagle Labs, to further develop their product and understand their market before judge’s make their decision on a winner. Judges will use a range of criteria, from safety to feasibility, to insight and innovation.
The overall winner of The Inventor Prize will be announced in September 2018, receiving a £50,000 prize to further develop their project.