Saturday, December 29, 2007

Innovation Into Action This 2008

March 2008 sees a brand new event set up to attract scouts and potential investors with the opportunity to discover new products, ideas and technologies, to meet developers and to make deals, as Cardiff hosts Innovation into Action at the National Cricket Centre, Sophia Gardens on March 10 and 11.

Wales is a land of innovation, and delegates will have access to over 70 mainly Welsh exhibitors who will gather to showcase their ideas, many for the first time, as we discover the commercial potential of a range of products from high to low tech. A key feature of the two day event will be the innovation brokerage, with pre-arranged one-to-one sessions for potential deal making.


Innovation into Action is the brainchild of the Welsh Assembly Government, and allows exhibitors the chance to showcase their wares to an audience of investors, venture capitalists, business angels, technology scouts, distributors and retailers, giving businesses the opportunity to engage in partnerships and strike deals that can bring bright ideas to market.

Phil Allen, Senior Programmes Manager with the Welsh Assembly Government said: "With Innovation into Action, we are gathering together the professionals who are able to turn new products, ideas and technologies into viable business propositions and we are confident that effective collaborations will emerge from it. We'll start the event in 2008 with mainly Welsh-based opportunities, but we hope to expand in future years to offer a showcase to big ideas from across the UK."

Big ideas such as LaddaLimpet® invented by Ian Menelaus - an award winning, easy-to-use ladder stabiliser which prevents ladders from slipping, twisting or moving sideways. And Snorekil, a simple, effective and user-friendly device that puts an end to sleep disruption due to snoring. Snorekil was invented by Paul Cattell, a dental technician with 35 years experience, and developed by North Wales based Sleepworks Products and their bright idea has recently scooped the 2007 MediWales Innovation Startup Award.

With half of the UK population snoring, this causes significant disruption to them and their bedfellows. Necessity really is the mother of invention in this case, and Snorekil's low cost, over-the-counter solution, which requires no surgical treatment or special fitting, is a great idea that has benefited from the expertise of the Welsh Assembly Government to bring it to market.

As with many of the ideas on show in March, inventor Paul Cattell was supported by the Wales Innovators Network (WIN), who have been showcasing Snorekil at various awards and exhibitions, including medal-winning appearances at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, and the British Invention Show in London. In January they will explore the potential market in the Middle East with an appearance at the Arab Health Exhibition with International Business Wales.


Paul says: "I am very grateful for the help we have had from the Welsh Assembly Government - it has really jump started our success and provided us with incredible contacts and connections for the future."

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