Press releases
USB Rechargeable Batteries wins prestigious award for innovation
14 November 2007
A battery which can be re-charged through a USB connection has won a prestigious global award for innovation at the IET’s annual Innovation in Engineering Awards.
London based Moixa Energy Ltd won the Power and Energy award for their USBCELL, USB rechargeable batteries.
More than 15 billion batteries are made or thrown away each year, which has a significant impact on the environment. Moixa Energy Ltd developed a battery with an in-built USB connector allowing users to recharge the battery by simply plugging it into a USB port, for example, on a laptop or games console. This innovation does away with the need for battery charger units.
A total of 15 awards, each sponsored by a major company, were presented and at a ceremony at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London hosted by TV personality and science enthusiast Johnny Ball.
The host of “Think of a Number” said: “What makes a great innovator? Perhaps a little eccentricity, a desire for improvement, plus vision and the determination to see it through. All that equals the type of projects recognised through these awards. Innovators always ask ‘Why can't it be better?’ If it wasn't for innovation we would still have black and white television and mono radio.”
He continued: “Innovation is at the heart of business and wealth creation. It is right that we acknowledge those who push the boundaries of science, engineering and technology and it will be exciting to see how the innovations awarded this year will make their mark in the future. “
Robin McGill, CEO of the IET said: “These awards recognise the vital role that innovation in engineering plays in the global economy. On behalf of the IET I would like to congratulate all the winners who have displayed outstanding innovation in their respective categories.”
He added that because of the huge interest in the awards this year details of the 2008 awards would be available immediately on the IET web site at: www.theiet.org/innovationawards
The judges said: “The increasingly wide and pervasive range of battery-powered consumer products is creating the need for either higher production of disposable batteries or more convenient rechargeable systems. This is a simple but effective adaptation of existing technology which has the potential for impact on a global scale.”
The Power and Energy Category is sponsored by Siemens PT&D.
The awards have been supported by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills and Make Your Mark in Manufacturing & Engineering.
IET Press Office
Sian Weaver
Media and PR
T: 020 7344 5443
M: 07725 498116
E: sweaver@theiet.org
Notes to editors:
Photographs
Photographs of a company representativeand Johnny Ball will be available from the IET press office, along with contact details for Moxia Energy Ltd.
The IET Innovation in Engineering Awards
There are 15 categories in the 2007 awards. The categories and their sponsors are:
Asset Management - National Grid
Built Environment - Halcrow Yolles
Electronics - Cadence
Emerging Technologies - RS Components
IT
Power - Siemens PT&D
Product Design - BT
Project Team
Robotics Control & Instrumentation - National Physical Laboratory
Security – ARM
Software in Design - The MathWorks
Start-up - Cre8 Ventures
Sustainability - ABB
Transport
Telecommunications - Orange
The aims of the IET Innovation in Engineering Awards are to recognise and reward innovative organisations; to raise the profile and the importance of innovation; to recognise and reward successful innovation; and to provide an indirect method of improving business, by providing a framework to encourage organisations to invest in innovation.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET has more than 150,000 members in 127 countries and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The Institution provides a global knowledge network to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas and promotes the positive role of Science, Engineering and Technology in the world.
For more information visit www.theiet.org