On a cold winter’s night in February, members of the South West’s premier life sciences and healthcare business network came together to celebrate a year of excellence at the Medilink Awards 2017.
Life sciences and healthcare are worth over £9bn to South West economy and Medilink South West represents over 450 businesses in the region, meaning that competition for prizes is tough.
Winners on the night included Kemdent, manufacturers of dental products and materials , who won the award for exporting achievements in 2016.
Micrima, a University of Bristol based spin out company formed in 2006, scooped the accolade for excellence in innovation for their application of radiowave radar technology to medical imaging.
Pertinax Pharma fought out tough competition to win the business start up award, with judges highly commending their solutions for protecting against antibacterial and antifungal infection
The prize for best partnership with the NHS went to Ultramed – a Cornwall company whose preoperative assessment platform is boosting hospital efficiency and helping to save lives. And last but by no means least Hydrate for Health received the outstanding achievement award for their innovative range of hydration products for patients with limited mobility.
In the afternoon before the awards, specialists from the life science community including Campden BRI, Device Scope and Designability gave interactive workshops alongside Public Health England’s Nigel Silman. Dr Mike Sullivan, Innovation Lead - Advanced Therapies at Innovate UK gave the keynote address about how Innovate UK is helping to shape the future of UK health and the life sciences, funding opportunities available and how companies can build new partnerships and supply chains.
On the night itself, attendees were treated to a typically offbeat performance by GP, broadcaster and comedian Dr. Phil Hammond, whose unique brand of comedy had attendees in stitches.
Commenting on the awards Professor Richard Luxton, Chair of Medilink South West said:
“This was the 2nd annual South West Medilink Awards and each and every year it gets bigger and better. The competition is tougher too.
“For an industry so vital to the health and wellbeing of the South West economy this is particularly pleasing to see.
“I am proud to represent such an innovative and enterprising group of businesses and would like to wish all of the winners the very best of luck for the national Medilink awards held in April. Given the strength of this year’s candidates, we anticipate an impressive showing in all award categories.”
“Finally, I’d like to thank our sponsors on the night Hazlewoods, Moneycorp, Campden BRI, Withers & Rogers and UWE for their generous, continued support.”
Business Start Up award winner, Dr Michele Barbour, Pertinax Pharma said:
“We are privileged to have been recognised for our achievements by the Medilink South West Community. It was clear at the Awards Ceremony that there is a great deal of energy and excitement associated with the awards, and this demonstrates that the life science and healthcare sector is thriving in the South West. “
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