A START-UP that emerged from research at Ulster University has been named as the overall winner of the 2021 Northern Ireland Invent Awards.
Stim OxyGen's use of innovative cancer treatment technology was selected from ten finalists at the ICC Belfast on Thursday night, taking home the top prize worth £26,000, from a total prize fund of £47,000.
Organised by Catalyst with support from Bank of Ireland UK, the Invent awards are an annual showcase of the brightest new business ideas.
Stim OxyGen’s technology enhances the effects of cancer treatment by overcoming the problem of hypoxia in solid tumours. It uses oxygen generating nanoparticles to generate transient oxygen within solid tumours and has the potential to improve the efficacy of many cancer treatments and transform patient outcomes across the world.
Sian Farrell, co-founder and chief scientific officer of the med-tech firm, said: “Six years of research and development has already gone into our technology, so we are delighted to have its potential recognised by Invent. Our team is passionate about changing the outcomes for cancer patients and delivering higher standards of care worldwide.
“Our ultimate ambition is to revolutionise cancer treatment and improve outcomes for patients on a global basis and winning Invent will help us take the next step towards achieving that goal.”
Invent Awards category winners on the night were:
Business software – Anneal
Consumer software – Stable Manager
Health & Wellbeing – Stim OxyGen
Greentech – Tankcube
Product – Excavator Forklift
In addition to the main awards, the 10 finalists took to the stage at ICC Belfast to give a live one-minute elevator pitch to win £1,000, with the audience voting Stim OxyGen the winner of best pitch.
The winner of the Student INVENT competition was announced as Gabrielle Feenan from Ulster University, who has developed Korkki, a business that designs and makes innovative cork furniture.
