Member Article

Wind of change for NE tech companies

An ultra-accurate satellite tracking system and a wind turbine blade-testing device are amongst the leading edge technologies being developed under a pioneering scheme in the North East. Ideas-lab was launched by Newcastle-based law firm Ward Hadaway and Northumbria University last summer to help North East technology firms make the most of their technology, processes and ideas.

More than a dozen companies have had an initial assessment from the university’s school of design and Ward Hadaway’s intellectual property team on the commercial potential of their various technologies. Now they are looking to help two of those organisations -Autopoietic Systems of Birtley and Blyth-based NaREC - to the next stage of development.

Alex Shiel, partner and head of intellectual property at Ward Hadaway, said: “It has been extremely encouraging to see the depth of innovation within North East companies and demand for Ideas-lab has exceeded our expectations. “What is important now is to maximise the value of these ideas and innovations to add value to these businesses and give them a real competitive edge. If we can help to do that, the future looks very bright for them.”

Autopoietic Systems has developed a GPS tracing system that is accurate to within half a metre, as opposed to the current standard of about 10 metres. The device was recently in the news after company founder Dr Philip Tann used it to argue that he had not broken a 30mph speed limit.

At NaREC (the New and Renewable Energy Centre) the Ideas-lab team will be helping the organisation to develop its patented wind turbine blade testing technology. The system measures how much vibration blades make, how resilient they are and how they perform over time. NaREC is looking to develop it as an industry standard for the wind farm sector.

Alex Shiel said: “We are very pleased to have been working in partnership with Northumbria University on Ideas-lab and the project shows how the private sector can work together with the university sector for the good of the region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .