Begbroke Science Park tenants are Shell Springboard winners
| Oxford: Friday, 25th March 2011 Two Begbroke Science Park businesses have scooped £40,000 between them for ideas to combat climate change. Since its inception in 2005, the prestigious Shell Springboard programme has awarded over £1.6m to small UK businesses researching and producing innovative products that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Oxford Photovoltaics and TwentyNinety each won £20,000 – Oxford Photovoltaics for its screen-printed solar-panel window glass and TwentyNinety for technology to monitor the performance of solar panels. Paul Vickery, of Oxford Photovoltaics, said: 'Our solar cells can be printed on to glass, meaning they are ideal for new buildings where solar cells can be incorporated into glazing panels and walls.' He added: 'We think our technology has the potential to deliver more solar power when our cells are incorporated into the fabric of a building rather than just being on the roof.' Oxford Photovoltaics are one of Begbroke's newest virtual tenants, establishing a base on the site in February this year. Cleantech developer TwentyNinety moved into offices at Begbroke's Centre for Innovation and Enterprise in January 2010. Their award recognises the commercial potential of their innovative photovoltaic technology Active ArrayTM, which is currently in trial with customers and is launching fully later in 2011. Chairman Simon Hombersley said: 'Our product uses low-cost wireless technology, widely found throughout other applications, such as security tags in stores, to monitor performance of individual panels and control the whole system to ensure optimum performance. Shell Springboard is a highly competitive scheme, and our success is a huge vote of confidence in Active ArrayTM and the company by a credible and prestigious organisation.' Dr Caroline Livingstone, Manager of Begbroke Science Park, commented: 'I'm delighted to see the work of these two companies recognised by such an influential programme. Here at Begbroke, we offer high-tech start–up companies a unique environment in which to grow. We are so much more than a conventional science park, because we can bring entrepreneurs and renowned Oxford University academics together to help them to forge pioneering business partnerships.' |