SafeHinge wins Concept Products Award

05/04/2007

"It's exciting to see the entrepreneurs behind this innovative new product recognised."

The award recognises innovative new concept designs developed by the UK's next generation of bright, young design graduates. The Glasgow-based company won the award for its innovative door hinge, which eliminates the problem of finger trapping.

As well as the award, SafeHinge also won prize money worth £2000. This was awarded by Jason Bradbury, Channel 5's top technology guru from The Gadget Show. Each year 30,000 children in the UK suffer finger injuries caused by doors, costing the NHS £200m and presenting a problem SafeHinge believes it can address.

The company will benefit further from NESTA's Starter for 6, designed to provide business skills training for budding entrepreneurs, working across science, technology and the creative sectors in Scotland.

One of 68 participants, picked from over 150 entries, SafeHinge will receive four days of intensive enterprise training; support to complete a business plan; the chance to bid for an early-stage investment grant of up to £10,000 and telephone coaching and mentoring.

The other businesses selected range from virtual tour guides and ergonomic sleeping solutions for airports to environmentally friendly fashion nappies and paramedic emergency extraction systems.

Commenting on the success of SafeHinge, Jackie McKenzie, who runs the Starter for 6 programme, said:

"It's exciting to see the entrepreneurs behind this innovative new product recognised. Through Starter for 6 we hope to help them further refine their thinking and really take this idea to market. We see it as our role to provide bright sparks like this with the knowledge, skills and networks they need to succeed".

For further information, please contact Vicky McGuire or Nicola Kane on 0207 438 2608 or at Nicola.kane@nesta.org.uk

NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts. With endowed funds of over £300 million, our mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. We do this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.

Starter for 6
Find out more information about Starter for 6.