This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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SMART:SCOTLAND Awards
24/05/2004
A new range of instruments for bowel keyhole surgery is
one of 17 research and development projects to receive a
share of £850,000 from a special innovation fund.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald today
announced the first round of winning companies from the
2004 SMART : SCOTLAND awards scheme.
The SMART awards are designed to help new and existing
businesses with less than 50 employees gain a competitive
edge in the market by funding the development of innovative
and commercially viable products and processes.
Mr Macdonald announced the successful companies at an
awards ceremony in Dunblane to congratulate last year's 41
SMART winners.
He said:
"I am highly encouraged by the quality and diversity of
the winning projects, some of which have truly global
market potential. I am confident that today's SMART winners
will build on the success of many of Scotland's businesses
already competing successfully on a global basis by
developing what will undoubtedly be world-beating
technologies."
Congratulating last year's winners, he added:
"I am delighted that today's award winners have been
able to access, and make real productive use of, our SMART
scheme. Support for research and development is an
increasingly important part of our 'pipeline of support'
for companies.
"The continuing high numbers of award winners underlines
the importance of this initiative for the growth and
sustainability of Scotland's small business community."
Amongst the companies to receive funding under 2004,
Round 1 are:
1. Lumenus Ltd, Perth
Surgical Transillumination and Palpation System
The SMART Award will enable Lumenus to perform the
initial investigations necessary for the development of the
first of a new range of instruments for the use of surgeons
in Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) relating to the bowel.
2. Inflow Control Solutions Ltd, Aberdeen
Design of an Inflow Control Valve for Oil and Gas Well
Completions
The SMART Award will enable Inflow Control Solutions to
design and test a novel valve for use in oil and gas well
completions. The development of the valve technology
offers the potential of increased productivity of
multi-zone wells through accelerated production, thus
increasing the economic value to the oil and gas operator
and increasing tax revenue to the host government.
3. Trig Avionics Ltd, Balerno
Development of a Low Power ATCRBS Transponder
The SMART Award will enable Trig Avionics to develop and
ATCRBS transponder for light sport aircraft, including
microlights, gliders and hot air balloons, that can be
powered from a minimal electrical system and allows the
aircraft to be seen by ATC radar and by airline Airborne
Collision Avoidance Systems. This will provide major
safety benefits for all airspace users.
www.trig-avionics.com
4. VCX Software Ltd, Livingston
IP Configurator
The SMART Award will enable VCX Software to investigate
the potential of developing a software tool that would
allow the profiling, packaging and transfer of
semi-conductor intellectual property (IP) between
companies. If successful, the software would allow IP from
various sources to be combined quickly and efficiently,
enabling substantial annual cost savings to the
electronics industry.
Entries for SMART:SCOTLAND can be submitted by
individuals planning to start a business in Scotland, and
by existing small firms / groups with less than 50
employees.
The Executive meets 75 per cent of the project costs and
the maximum award payable has recently been raised to
£50,000. Projects last between 6 and 18 months.
Winners who successfully complete their projects and
require additional assistance to develop a pre-production
prototype can apply for further funding under the SPUR
scheme. SPUR is a non-competitive scheme and grant is
available at 35 per cent of the eligible project costs,
subject to a maximum grant of £150,000. These projects
should last between six months and three years.
The SMART:SCOTLAND Programme is part-funded by the
European Regional Development Fund.