Bright Idea Could Flick Switch On Huge Global Lighting Savings
22/07/2009 - Bright Idea Could Flick Switch On Huge Global Lighting Savings
A Black Country firm is set to revolutionise the world of lighting after developing a bright idea with the help of a £30,000 grant.
Integrated System Technologies, based in Aldridge, has created a groundbreaking LED lighting system which could flick the switch on a global lighting transformation.
The Birch Lane-based company has developed new driver technology for LED lights which are about seven times more efficient than standard light bulbs and the LED drivers are about five to ten per cent more efficient than any similar product currently available.
At first the lighting products, which last about 60 times longer than standard bulbs, would mainly be used in the commercial and industrial sector but in the longer term the concept could replace traditional household lights.
The firm has already agreed a deal for use of the technology with one of the top three lighting firms in the world, and if the product is rolled out on a global scale, it will result in significant energy and financial savings for users as well as huge environmental benefits.
The technology, which is predicted to bring in over one million pounds over the next five years, was developed with the help of a £30,000 grant from the Advantage Proof of Concept Fund.
The Advantage Proof of Concept Fund supports small and medium sized enterprises develop innovative new products and ideas. It can fund a variety of activities including prototyping, registering intellectual property rights, market assessments and business planning.
The scheme provides grants of up to 75 per cent of a project’s cost -to a maximum of £30,000 - for universities and businesses to prove that their innovations have significant economic potential. The fund has so far awarded more than £2 million to successful applicants and has about £3.8 million still available.
Dr Geoff Archenhold, chief technical officer at Integrated System Technologies, said: “Currently 19 per cent of the world’s electricity is generated for lighting and our product is going to significantly reduce that amount. We really would not have developed this technology if it had not been for the grant. We have done something state of the art that a company 1,000 times bigger than us would have struggled with. The money enabled us to get the product patented, which can be very expensive, but protecting the design is extremely important.”
Neil Taylor, from Walsall-based chartered accountants Edwards and an independent award panel member for the Advantage Proof of Concept Fund, said: “The Proof of Concept Fund gets money directly into the hands of the innovative businesses which are going to drive the UK economy in the next 10 years. It allows businesses like Integrated System Technologies to use the money in the way in which they think will be most effective.
It is fantastic to see what the company has already achieved and the Fund is delighted to have been able to support them in their latest venture. This is a perfect example of how this scheme can support fledgling businesses and we would encourage any other eligible organisations to contact the Fund as soon as possible and avoid missing out.”
The Fund was set up by the University of Warwick Science Park with funding from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund.
It is run in collaboration between the University of Warwick Science Park, Connect Midlands, the University of Wolverhampton, Malvern Hills Science Park, the Central Technology Belt and the Staffordshire and Black Country Business Innovation Centre.
For more information contact the Advantage Proof of Concept team at the Black Country centre on 0845 074 3528.
Photograph: Dr Geoff Archenhold and Nina Blackmore, from Integrated Systems Technolgies, with Neil Taylor, an independent award panel member for the APOC Fund, courtesy of www.inpressimages.co.uk.
Integrated System Technologies, based in Aldridge, has created a groundbreaking LED lighting system which could flick the switch on a global lighting transformation.
The Birch Lane-based company has developed new driver technology for LED lights which are about seven times more efficient than standard light bulbs and the LED drivers are about five to ten per cent more efficient than any similar product currently available.
At first the lighting products, which last about 60 times longer than standard bulbs, would mainly be used in the commercial and industrial sector but in the longer term the concept could replace traditional household lights.
The firm has already agreed a deal for use of the technology with one of the top three lighting firms in the world, and if the product is rolled out on a global scale, it will result in significant energy and financial savings for users as well as huge environmental benefits.
The technology, which is predicted to bring in over one million pounds over the next five years, was developed with the help of a £30,000 grant from the Advantage Proof of Concept Fund.
The Advantage Proof of Concept Fund supports small and medium sized enterprises develop innovative new products and ideas. It can fund a variety of activities including prototyping, registering intellectual property rights, market assessments and business planning.
The scheme provides grants of up to 75 per cent of a project’s cost -to a maximum of £30,000 - for universities and businesses to prove that their innovations have significant economic potential. The fund has so far awarded more than £2 million to successful applicants and has about £3.8 million still available.
Dr Geoff Archenhold, chief technical officer at Integrated System Technologies, said: “Currently 19 per cent of the world’s electricity is generated for lighting and our product is going to significantly reduce that amount. We really would not have developed this technology if it had not been for the grant. We have done something state of the art that a company 1,000 times bigger than us would have struggled with. The money enabled us to get the product patented, which can be very expensive, but protecting the design is extremely important.”
Neil Taylor, from Walsall-based chartered accountants Edwards and an independent award panel member for the Advantage Proof of Concept Fund, said: “The Proof of Concept Fund gets money directly into the hands of the innovative businesses which are going to drive the UK economy in the next 10 years. It allows businesses like Integrated System Technologies to use the money in the way in which they think will be most effective.
It is fantastic to see what the company has already achieved and the Fund is delighted to have been able to support them in their latest venture. This is a perfect example of how this scheme can support fledgling businesses and we would encourage any other eligible organisations to contact the Fund as soon as possible and avoid missing out.”
The Fund was set up by the University of Warwick Science Park with funding from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund.
It is run in collaboration between the University of Warwick Science Park, Connect Midlands, the University of Wolverhampton, Malvern Hills Science Park, the Central Technology Belt and the Staffordshire and Black Country Business Innovation Centre.
For more information contact the Advantage Proof of Concept team at the Black Country centre on 0845 074 3528.
Photograph: Dr Geoff Archenhold and Nina Blackmore, from Integrated Systems Technolgies, with Neil Taylor, an independent award panel member for the APOC Fund, courtesy of www.inpressimages.co.uk.
