Invite to enter innovation awards

Staffordshire's most innovative businesses are being invited to enter a prestigious awards competition,

The Lord Stafford Awards are in their 11th year and celebrate the best of innovation and research and development work by companies and universities. Prizes of £5,000 are available in four categories.

The 2008 awards are funded by Advantage West Midlands, BT, MAS-WM, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber and Coventry University Enterprises. The categories are: impact through innovation; achievement through innovation; entrepreneurial spirit; and knowledge transfer champion.

Awards patron Lord Stafford said: "Each year, the number and quality of entries become more and more impressive and we are sure this will continue this year. The awards are an opportunity to showcase how the West Midlands has forged ahead in terms of innovation and collaboration, linking businesses with our world-class universities to encourage knowledge transfer and deliver innovative products, processes and services.

"I would urge any company in Staffordshire that has worked with one or more of the region's universities to enter the Lord Stafford Awards."

Nick Paul, chairman of Advantage West Midlands, said: "The West Midlands is home to some world-class research and development institutions and can be rightly proud of much of the excellent work that comes from our universities and research and development institutions.

"However, our region faces some key challenges in innovation, research and development if we are to meet the aims of the West Midlands economic strategy. We also need to do more to celebrate the successes of businesses in our region.

"The Lord Stafford Awards are the perfect way for us to showcase how companies, very often smaller ones, can embrace innovation by investing in research and development and I am delighted that Advantage West Midlands is able to continue to play its part."

To find out more about the 2008 Awards and how to enter, visit www.thelordstaffordawards.co.uk The deadline for entries is June 20.