Ubisense shortlisted for the iawards Best British Inside category

Cambridge, 12 November 2009.  Ubisense, the world leader in Precise Real-Time Location Systems announces that it has joined the iawards shortlist. Launched by the British Government, the iawards are in their inaugural year and aim to recognise some of the most innovative British businesses.

The iawards in association with QinetiQ were launched by Lord Drayson and James Caan in July. They aim to celebrate the best of British science, technology and innovation. As such, all entrants had to specify the British involvement in their innovation - demonstrating that innovative thinking and development came from a British organisation or team.

Ubisense has been shortlisted within the Best British Inside category, which focuses on critical innovative contributions in terms of a hidden component of breakthrough research / thinking used by any other company in the world. Each entry had to demonstrate how its innovative qualities relate to at least one of the following challenges:

•    Addressing the healthcare needs of an ageing society;
•    Increasing international security from tackling global poverty to minimising the threat of terrorism;
•    Preserving finite natural resources in the face of population growth and climate change; and
•    Delivering public services which make best use of new technologies.

Ubisense were able to demonstrate technology which is a truly British innovation and answered three of the required challenges.  Initially created by four British Engineers, Ubisense is now a successful commercial organisation, with R&D and Headquarters in Cambridge, UK.

Ubisense is the leading British company specialising in Precise Real-Time Location Systems, which accurately track the precise location of assets, people or animals within a specified geospatial area.  The company has recently ranked 8th in the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech track 100 2009 and within the top twenty companies listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the second successive year.

‘”We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the iawards, especially during their inaugural year’” said Ubisense CEO Richard Green “we share the view that organisations that invest in R&D will be best-placed to survive recession.  We have followed this path and had an unbelievable year, increasing our market-leadership and doubling our world-wide presence.”

All of the winners will be announced at the iawards gala dinner on November 16 at the Science Museum.   For more information please visit www.iawards.org.uk.


About Ubisense

Ubisense is the world leader in Precise Real-Time Location Systems and Consulting Services, tracking people and assets with unmatched accuracy, and giving enterprises the power to bring visibility and control to previously intractable business processes. With over 400 customers Worldwide, Ubisense is revolutionising industries today. For more information please visit www.ubisense.net

Press Contact:  Caroline Brown + 44(0) 1223 535 170

iawards shortlist:

The iaward for energy and environment
    AlertMe; AlertMe
    AMEE UK; AMEE UK Ltd
    Siemens Mobility, Traffic Solutions; Environmentally Friendly ELV Traffic Systems

The iaward for places to live and work
    E-Stack Ltd; E-Stack Atrium Ventilation System
    Quiet Revolution Ltd; qr5 Wind Turbine
    Crest Nicholson; Sustainable Communities

The iaward for digital communications
    Mippin; Mippin Buzz Widgets
    BigHand; BigHand for BlackBerry smartphones
    Powertraveller Ltd; solargorilla

The iaward for entertainment and media
    Publishing Research Laboratories Ltd; Intelligent Flatplan
    Cortexica Limited; Cortexica
    The Foundry; Ocula

The iaward for a consumer product
    Unilever R&D; Pureit - home water purification device
    MAS Design Products Ltd; One Touch™ Automatic Jar Opener
    trueCall Ltd; trueCall

The iaward for cross-application of technology
    Legal Advice Direct-Vieo Conferencing Services Limited    Information; Advice Support Service
    Metrasens Ltd; Ferroguard
    National Physcial Laboratory; Automated Vegetable Harvesting Vehicle

The iaward for best collaboration
    Opal Contracts; Infection Minimising Curtain Hook
    Nottingham Scientific Ltd; Next Generation Satellite Navigation Receiver
    Thales Research & Technology (UK) Limited; nuVa

The iaward for British inside
    Ubisense; Ubisense Real Time Location System
    DigePrint Ltd; LumeJet
    Alumet Systems (UK) Ltd; ABLE Facade System

The iaward for best technology start-up
    Horizon Discovery Ltd; Introducing the X-MAN: A Model Cancer Patient
    i2O Water Ltd; Intelligent Water Control - Advanced Pressure Management
    Novacem Limited; Novacem

The iaward for the next big thing
    Diverse-Energy Ltd.; PowerCube
    Baxi Group; Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP
    Argento Diagnostics Ltd; Argento Diagnostics


Winners of the awards will be helped by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to meet potential business partners at key industry events such as the giant Medica trade fair in Germany and TechnologyWorld in Coventry this autumn. They will also receive public relations support from the iawards team. All shortlisted entries and the winners will also have exclusive access to the iawards logo.

Science and technology has been a driving force behind Britain’s export success. Exports for life sciences, for example, rose 19% in 2008. Innovation is also important in keeping the UK as the number one destination for inward investment in Europe. UKTI statistics show that the number of investment projects in creative industries increased by 65% in 2008/9 and in software and computer services by 36%.

About the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. 
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills will promote open and competitive markets, proportionate regulation, an enterprise and innovation culture, skilled people, thriving universities, life-long learning and world-class science, technology and research.


About UK Trade & Investment (UKTI):
UK Trade & Investment is the UK Government's international business development organisation, supporting businesses seeking to establish in the UK and helping UK companies grow internationally. The services offered by UK Trade & Investment bring together a network of business sector specialists and support teams across England and in British diplomatic posts in some 100 markets all around the world. UK Trade & Investment works with a wide range of partner organisations in the UK, including other Government departments, RDAs and the Devolved Administrations, Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and trade associations.  For more information, visit the web site at www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk Visit the online newsroom at http://www.newsroom.uktradeinvest.gov.uk