One month left to apply for 2011 Ideas4Innovation Award
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Ideas4Innovation Ambassador Amy Williams
James Roche, University of Southampton
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Grace Cullen 08 June 2011
Budding researchers have exactly one month left to apply for UK Sport’s latest Ideas4Innovation Award and the chance to win up to £25,000 in research funding, with entries for the 2011 Awards closing on Friday 8 July.
Granted by UK Sport’s Research and Innovation team, Ideas4Innovation is an award scheme aimed at harnessing exceptional research concepts and proposals which, given sufficient funding and support, could make a difference to the future of British Olympic and Paralympic sport.
This year, the applicants with the top eight ideas will be invited to McLaren Applied Technologies in Woking on Thursday 4 August to present their ideas to an expert panel, including UK Sport Chief Executive Liz Nicholl and Great Britain wheelchair rugby captain Steve Brown, and will win a £500 prize. Any idea which the panel believes has the potential to make a significant performance impact on British athletes could win up to £25,000 in research funding to help turn their idea into a reality.
UK Sport’s Head of Research and Innovation Dr Scott Drawer said: “The standard of applicants so far this year has surpassed our expectations and we are excited for what the upcoming programme has in store.
“With London 2012 on the horizon, this is an exciting time for sport in this country and we are confident we can uncover some truly inspirational projects that could ensure our athletes have the edge over their competitors in Sochi in 2014 or in Rio in 2016.
“In an effort to continue driving high performance sport in this country in new directions, we are seeking talented groups or individuals capable of thinking outside the box in fields of athlete equipment and accessories, coaching technologies, training science or performance medicine.”
Winner of UK Sport’s 2009 ‘New Researchers’ Award, Mangala Kodagoda, said: “The objective of our project was to develop a visualization tool to support British athletes and coaches in their preparation for London 2012. This allowed us to realise our potential to be successful in the work we do, and personally helped me find new work through the contacts I’ve made.
“I encourage anyone to take part in this valuable opportunity to work on high profile projects and increase the chances of being recognised for your talents.”
Since the scheme was launched in 2008, UK Sport has awarded six prizes of research and development funding of up to £25,000 to students and individuals to invest in their ideas.
Students should to apply via the ‘New Researchers’ entry route, while others, including those working in higher education, can apply via the ‘Garage Innovators’ application process. Applications for the 2011 Ideas4Innovation Awards are now open. To apply please download and complete our simple application form at www.uksport.gov.uk/ideas4innovation by 8 July 2011. Applicants who require more information on the Ideas4Innovation scheme should contact ideas4innovation@uksport.gov.uk.
