A prestigious awards competition which celebrates the very best of innovation by companies and universities in the West Midlands has officially been launched for 2008.

Now in its 11th year, the Lord Stafford Awards offers cash prizes of £5,000 in four categories.
By bringing together the wealth of excellent research and development work produced by Universities and businesses of all types and sizes, the Awards seek to generate increased competitiveness and knowledge transfer.

The 2008 Awards – officially launched by patron Lord Stafford and Advantage West Midlands Chairman Nick Paul – will take place at a glitzy ceremony in Worcester Cathedral on November 13.

The Awards are funded by Advantage West Midlands, BT, MAS-WM, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber and Coventry University Enterprises.

Previous award winners have included Coventry-based environmentally-friendly automobile manufacturer Microcab, Worcestershire car makers Morgan and Black Country sports equipment developers Teardrop Technologies.

The categories open to businesses and universities are impact through innovation, achievement through innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge transfer champion.

Awards Patron Lord Stafford said: “Each year, the number and quality of entries into the awards becomes more and more impressive and we are sure this will continue this year.

“The Awards are an opportunity to showcase how the West Midlands has forged ahead in terms of innovation and collaboration, linking businesses with our world-class universities to encourage knowledge transfer and deliver innovative products, processes and services.

“I would urge any company in the West Midlands that has worked with one or more of the region’s universities to enter the Lord Stafford Awards.”

Nick Paul, Advantage West Midlands Chairman, said: “The West Midlands is home to some world-class research and development institutions and can be rightly proud of much of the excellent work that comes from our Universities and R&D institutions.

“However, our region faces some key challenges in innovation, research and development if we are to meet the aims of the West Midlands Economic Strategy.

“We also need to do more to celebrate the successes of businesses in our region.

“The Lord Stafford Awards are the perfect way for us to showcase how companies, very often smaller ones, can embrace innovation by investing in research and development and I am delighted that Advantage West Midlands is able to continue to play its part.”

To find out more about the 2008 Awards and how to enter, visit www.thelordstaffordawards.co.uk. The deadline for entries is June 20 2008.