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Biotech star Pacific Edge reigns Supreme at New Zealand Innovators Awards

Dunedin-based biotech company Pacific Edge is this year’s supreme winner of the New Zealand Innovators Awards thanks to its novel cancer detection test Cxbladder.

Clinicians use the urine sampling system to quickly test for bladder cancer, minimising the need for the patient to go to a laboratory or wait to see a specialist at a time when the cancer could be progressing.

Award evaluators noted how the innovative diagnostic tool was highly accurate and had potential to save lives.

The awards ceremony was held at the Auckland Museum last night and highlighted the innovative work of a number of New Zealand companies and individuals, including: Fonterra for its unique Alternative Make Cheese (AMC) process used to produce premium Mozzarella on a commercial scale; StretchSense, which has created a soft, stretchy sensor for measuring human body deformation and movement; and 14-year- old Ayla Hutchinson who developed Kindling Cracker – a device used for making wood kindling without dangerously wielding an axe.

“You often hear about how innovative New Zealand is, but there is nothing like these Awards for getting the full perspective. Entries increased by 22% on last year and have come from the length and breadth of New Zealand, from start-up companies and universities – right through to large global corporates,” said Louise Webster, New Zealand Innovation Council CEO and Awards convenor. “It’s amazing to see the talent out there and even better to recognize the best. That’s what the New Zealand Innovators Awards are all about – celebrating an amazing blend of talented people, disciplines and industries”.

Webster added that the “innovation and commercialisation happens on the edge of industries with the cross pollination of ideas and practices from one sector to another”. “The New Zealand Innovators Awards brings these industries and people together to form a national innovation community. We need to shout about our achievements and inspire others to go on a journey of growth through innovation.”

Foundation sponsor Bayer New Zealand is once again heavily involved with the awards, which are also supported by yours truly Idealog, as a media partner, Ideas Accelerator and the New Zealand Innovation Council.

“It is critical for people to be open to new ideas. We must not live in a society that is afraid of taking risks and grasping opportunities. The New Zealand Innovators Awards celebrates these opportunities and encourages innovators across New Zealand to invest in innovation for business growth,” said Bayer ANZ chairperson Jackie Applegate.

Below is the full list of this year’s New Zealand Innovators Awards winners:

Supreme New Zealand Innovator

Sponsored by Bayer New Zealand

This award is presented by Bayer New Zealand to the best overall entry. The Supreme Award winner is chosen from all categories.

2013 WINNER – PACIFIC EDGE LTD with Cxbladder

Cxbladder is a novel gene test for the detection and management of bladder cancer. Patient compliance is significantly enhanced with the easy-to-use, in home or in clinic urine sample system. This detection system minimises the need to go to a laboratory collection centre or wait to see the specialist at a time when the cancer can be progressing.

http://www.pacificedgedx.com/

Emerging New Zealand Innovator

Sponsored by Unitec Institute of Technology

This award is presented by Bayer New Zealand to the best overall entry. The Supreme Award winner is chosen from all categories.

2013 WINNER – STRETCHSENSE with StretchSense

StretchSense has created soft stretchy sensors for measuring human body deformation and movement. These sensors do not interfere with natural motion, are soft, unobtrusive, comfortable, wireless, and easy to use.

http://www.stretchsense.com

Innovation Excellence in Research

Sponsored by Auckland Museum

This award celebrates those that have started on the research and commercialisation journey and who have completed a research project that has excellent commercialisation potential and impact.

2013 WINNER – BIOPOLYMER NETWORK with Zelafoam

Zelafoam is a low density moulded bioplastic foam that is; cost-effective, made from renewable resources and is an eco-friendly alternative to expanded polystyrene particle foams.

http://www.biopolymernetwork.com/

Export Innovator of the Year

Sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

This award celebrates organisations that have achieved excellence in export innovation. To grow New Zealand’s economy we need to encourage and recognise organisation that have developed great new products and services that are export focused.

2013 WINNER – FONTERRA RESEARCH CENTRE LTD with Alternate Make Cheese (Mozzarella)

Fonterra’s unique Alternative Make Cheese (AMC) process produces a premium performance frozen Mozzarella shred on a commercial scale. When thawed the Mozzarella, has a superior functionality and composition structure, which allows for a richer flavour, unique stretch and melt properties.

http://www.fonterra.com/global/en/about/our+locations/newzealand/fonterra+research+centre

Most Inspiring Individual

Sponsored by New Zealand Innovation Council

This award is given to an individual that has shown outstanding innovation success in their field of expertise, either through the development of intellectual property or through the launch of a new product or venture.

2013 WINNER – AYLA HUTCHINSON with Kindling Cracker

The Kindling Cracker allows people to make kindling without dangerously wielding an axe. Safe and easy to use, the kindling cracker operates by tapping wood with a mallet onto a stationary blade that splits it. It requires less force to split wood than using an axe and is suitable for all ages and for people with arthritis and other disabilities.

http://www.kindlingcracker.com/

Innovation in Design and Engineering

Sponsored by James & Wells Intellectual Property Limited

2013 WINNER – STRETCHSENSE with StretchSense

StretchSense has created soft stretchy sensors for measuring human body deformation and movement. These sensors do not interfere with natural motion, are soft, unobtrusive, comfortable, wireless, and easy to use.

www.stretchsense.com

Innovation in Sustainability and Clean-tech

Sponsored by Ideas Accelerator Limited

2013 WINNER – VECTOR LTD with Home Solar Programme

Vector’s Home Solar Programme is designed to make solar accessible to everyday people. The programme provides customers with a sustainable choice in energy used to power their homes by making solar power accessible, reliable and intelligent.

http://www.vector.co.nz/

Innovation in Environment and Agriculture

Sponsored by Bayer New Zealand

2013 WINNER – PLANT AND FOOD RESEARCH LTD with Pheromones for Sustainable Pest Control

Plant and Food Research have utilised sex pheromones released by the females of many insect species to disrupt communication between insects, reducing mating and insect population, and therefore, reducing reliance on chemical controls and improving market access.

Plant and Food Research have developed formulations, blends and dispensers specifically for New Zealand apple orchards now a key part of the Apple Futures programme, delivering apples for export with ultra-low residues that meet market regulations and supermarket customer assurance programmes.

http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/

Innovation in Health and Science

Sponsored by Ko Awatea CMDHB

2013 WINNER – PACIFIC EDGE LTD with Cxbladder

Cxbladder is a novel gene test for the detection and management of bladder cancer. Patient compliance is significantly enhanced with the easy-to-use, in home or in clinic urine sample system. This detection system minimises the need to go to a laboratory collection centre or wait to see the specialist at a time when the cancer can be progressing.

http://www.pacificedgedx.com/

Innovation in Hospitality, Food & Beverage

Sponsored by Yealands Estate Wines

2013 WINNER – MOBI2GO LTD with Mobi2Go

Mobi2Go is an integrated online and mobile food ordering platform providing unique customer ordering solutions for the retail hospitality industry. Mobi2Go is an integrated online POS gateway that manages all aspects of online ordering and payment, product control and customer management.

http://www.mobi2go.com/

Innovation in Information Communications Technology

Sponsored by ng Connect

2013 WINNER – GREENBUTTON LTD with Cloud Fabric

GreenButton Cloud Fabric is a specialized PaaS (platform as a service) that enables businesses to harness the vast computing power of cloud technology. The platform enables companies to move compute intensive workloads to the cloud in a fast, cost efficient manner with no recoding required.

http://www.greenbutton.com/

Innovation in Marketing and Communications

Sponsored by Tangible Media

2013 WINNER – KAINIC MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS LTD with International Travel Scholarship

Kainic is a start-up specialist medical writing company almost exclusively exporting services to a UK client base of medical communications agencies, the biotechnology industry and scientific and healthcare communities.

Kainic has developed a unique marketing strategy the Kainic Medical Communications International Travel Scholarship. This annual campaign has built and strengthened Kainic’s reputation globally in its key markets and healthcare communities and has allowed Kainic to interact with local and international markets simultaneously.

http://kainicmedical.com/

Innovation in Media, Music and Entertainment

Sponsored by Idealog

2013 WINNER – TRIGGER HAPPY LTD with Toon Hero

Trigger Happy have taken their expertise in animation and made it easy, social and accessible for everyone to experience with the app TOON HERO. This first-of-its-kind iPad app allows users of all ages to easily create their own animated stories, jokes and more using world-famous characters, which can be shared online and across many social media platforms.

http://www.iamtriggerhappy.com/index.html

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