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Mark Champkins

Mark was one of NESTA's Creative Pioneers. The programme offered support and business funding to creative graduates.

Mark studied Manufacturing and Management (MET) at Cambridge University, graduating in 2000. Following his degree, he attended the Royal College of Art where he studied Product Design. It was while at the RCA that he developed a range of "Self Heating Crockery" - a range of plates, cups and bowls that could instantaneously heat to sixty degrees at the touch of a button. Mark won British Inventor of the Year in 2002 for the crockery range and has since appeared on a number of TV programs including BBC's Dragons' Den.

He is currently Inventor in Residence at the London Science Museum.

Arrow icon green [original]Watch our interview with Mark


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15 Feb 12, 7:30pm (1 years ago)

Innovation what happened to the Technology Strategy

This is encouraging and we all wish Mark Champkins well in his ventures. But last month another 48,000 people became unemployed, total unemployed now almost 3 million, some say 6 million counting temporary & part time workers.

I cannot believe that Nesta are unable to see the world beating engineering inventions that are out there and starved of funds. Is this because there are no experienced practical skilled engineers on any of the Nesta boards & committees?
I gave up with Nesta a long time ago, I have now partnered with a number of engineering universities who see the potential in my ideas, but it's taking years to get projects under way. My longest is 10 years, with a file 1 foot thick, still ongoing with a letter arriving from my local MP just today, "the potential of your idea seems, indeed, to be remarkable.". I have the same positive comments from the Home Office Science & Technology Committee & various crime reduction groups, but no action.
Indeed I have a dozen heavy engineering ideas with various universities in Scotland and England but so many barriers to progress.
These are engineering ideas coming from 50 years working & solving problems in oil & gas, & heavy construction, with potential to create thousands of jobs and billions in wealth, but innovation has taken on a toys & gadgets image, supporting tiny enterprises with 1 or 2 people in an industrial estate.
With the national overdraft in hundreds of billions and unemployment at 3 million I think it's time for a rethink.