UK Sport

Final call for applications: Garage Innovators 2009

Have you got innovative ideas that could benefit British athletes in 2012?
Photo/Stuart Hollis and LUSTI

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Jessica Whitehorn 02 July 2009

Britain's scientists and engineers have just eight days left to apply for the UK Sport Garage Innovators Award 2009, which close on 10 July. The Garage Innovators Award, worth up to £25,000 in research and development funding and now in its second year, is designed to find the best and most innovative solutions to aiding success in Olympic and Paralympic sport.

This award forms part of the UK Sport Ideas4Innovation programme which acknowledges and harnesses outstanding research and innovation concepts designed to improve the performance of elite athletes, supporting the mission to 2012 and beyond.

The award is aimed at individuals with a passion to see the Great Britain team succeed. The prize of £25,000 will enable the inventor to realise their idea, whilst enabling UK Sport to utilise any outcomes prior to 2012 during a period of exclusivity.

In its pilot year, the Garage Innovators Award received 57 applications from individuals based throughout the UK with a variety of backgrounds from engineering, to sports science and the arts.

Last year’s winner Alasdair Wylie designed a novel device for canoeing and was delighted to have an opportunity to make it a reality. Wylie says: “Winning this award gives us the funding for the project and also the access to those within the sport itself, which will be the key to making it a success. Since winning the Garage Innovators Award UK Sport has been liaising with experts in their network to obtain additional knowledge to maximise the performance impact of the project. My idea might actually enhance Team GB’s performance in 2012 and I’d recommend anyone with an idea that can improve the performance of British athletes to put it forward to UK Sport and see it realised.”

UK Sport’s Head of Research and Innovation, Dr Scott Drawer said of last years winning idea “The project excelled in its simplicity, application and ability to directly impact on some of the UK’s medal winning sports. Alasdair’s winning idea came from an observation during the Beijing Games. This really highlights how something can be taken for granted when you are immersed in the environment day in and day out.”

Alison Neall, UK Sport’s Ideas 4 Innovation coordinator said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to apply their knowledge to help us achieve British sporting success and as Alasdair highlights, successful applicants would also have access to our extensive network of contacts in world class research and innovation.”

Neall also commented on what she is expecting from this year’s applicants: “Your idea or design should be a novel, based on sound research or evidence, and you should be able to demonstrate how it can have a clear performance impact on Olympic or Paralympic sports and athletes. The idea should fill a gap in our current knowledge base and should not conflict with the rules and regulations of the sport. Some of the most effective innovations are often the most simple so don’t be afraid to state the obvious.

“Most importantly, you should be able to demonstrate an application to elite sport on the front line. The idea could be related to any one of the research and innovation work streams - athlete equipment and accessories, coaching technologies, training science or performance medicine - and there's no limit to how many ideas each applicant can enter.”

Inventors with a passion for sport and a winning idea are asked to submit their application by 10 July 2009. Finalists will be invited to UK Sport's head office in London to present their idea to an expert panel that will include Ideas4Innovation Ambassador and Olympic gold medallist Jason Queally.

Please see below for a link to the Garage Innovators Award homepage where you can download the application form, terms and conditions and promotional flyer.

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