The innovative approach of a Nottingham-based company has attracted the attention of the organisers of the innovation expo (iEXPO), part of the East Midlands innovation festival (iFestival).
Co-ordinated by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and funded by East Midlands Innovation (the Regional Science and Industry Council), the iFestival runs from 6 March to 17 April and aims to showcase and celebrate innovation within businesses, communities and organisations across the region.
Dr Carl Barratt, Chief Executive Officer of Monica Healthcare Ltd, was invited to present at the iEXPO event which was sponsored by innovation company Pera and attended by more than 150 local businesses and support organisations.
Dr Barratt said: “We were very keen to come to the iFestival to explain how funding and support helped Monica achieve its ambitions. We hope that our innovations will transform the lives of many women all over the world during a vulnerable time in their pregnancy.
“The iFestival is great for businesses to find out about what support is available across the East Midlands. Support from the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet was crucial to the growth of our company. The iNet supplied Monica Heathcare Limited with contacts, expertise and information, but most of all support in turning our ambitions into reality. Being co-located with the iNet means that there’s a real focus that enables organisations to exchange knowledge and form collaborations to exploit new ideas.”
Dr Barratt concluded: “It’s not just about sharing information, the grants offered through iNets can give businesses with a great idea a head-start in getting their innovative projects off the ground.”
Monica Healthcare Ltd was formed in May 2005 following a successful £500K seed fund raising exercise. It was the culmination of 15 years of research at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the School of Human Development at The University of Nottingham. An additional £1million second round funding was raised in May 2007. The company is now based at BioCity in Nottingham, the home of the innovation network (iNet) for the healthcare and bioscience sector across the East Midlands.
Monica is developing a series of innovative wearable devices that will transform accessible obstetric services in the home and hospital.
For example, the Monica AN24, is the world’s first portable device that records the maternal and fetal heart rate from the mother and baby as well as any uterine activity (contractions). The advantages of the AN24 are that the device saves supervision time by midwives when monitoring obese or early gestation patients or those patients that require multiple monitoring sessions. The Monica AN24 can be operated by the mother at home with little training. The information recorded is then put into a graph which can be interpreted by a doctor or midwife to assess the wellbeing of the unborn baby.
The MP3-size devices are wearable and unobtrusive and the mother is free to walk around, go to the bathroom or even take a shower. This has a major advantage over the old technology that required the mother to be immobilised for lengthy periods of time.
For more information about the iFestival and events taking place in the region visit www.eminnovation.org.uk
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Issued on behalf of the iFestival by Lava. For further information contact Matt, Louise or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / louise@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to Editors:
About the iFestival
• The iFestival is region-wide and takes place between 6th March and 17th April 2009. Building on the success of 2008, the iFestival will encompass an inspiring, inclusive programme of events, designed to help foster a culture of innovation in the region with activity targeted at young people, businesses, communities and organisations supporting or involved within an innovation environment. Innovation is regarded as a key driver in creating a dynamic, knowledge focused East Midlands’ economy and it is identified as a strategic priority in the Regional Economic Strategy.
• Improved productivity in an increasingly competitive global market means that businesses and organisations in the East Midlands must put innovation at the heart of their core activities, if they are to flourish and stay ahead of the game. The iFestival is being co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation – The Regional Science and Industry Council. For further information including the latest programme of events and innovation updates please visit: www.eminnovation.org.uk
About East Midlands Innovation
• East Midlands Innovation is the Regional Science and Industry Council which was established in 2005 by emda.
• East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to take the lead for emda in implementing the Innovation Strategy and Action Plan for the East Midlands with the aim to grow a long term, sustainable, innovation-led economy.
About emda
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
• Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
• Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
• Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
• Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
• A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for ‘a flourishing region’ can be achieved.
For more details visit www.emda.org.uk
About Pera
Pera is one of Europe’s leading innovation and business support organisations with a presence in eight European countries. Established in the UK over 60 years ago as an industry association owned by the companies it serves, we now work to improve the growth and competitiveness of industry and business in Europe by helping clients gain;
• greater access to global knowledge and markets
• more efficient business processes
• better differentiated products and services
• more effective skills development.
Contact: Alicia Rudzka, Communications Manager Tel: 01664 501240
Email: alicia.rudzka@pera.com Web: www.pera.com
About BioCity
BioCity Nottingham is one of Europe’s largest bioscience incubators. Launched in 2003, the 129,000 sq ft award winning site currently hosts 60 companies and nearly 500 employees.
The purpose of BioCity Nottingham is to provide a home for developing biotechnology and healthcare companies, with accommodation that is able to respond to a company’s requirements by offering small highly flexible laboratory and office units, and grow-on space. It is able to cater for companies from 1 to about 80 employees.
Four sector specific Innovation Networks (iNets), including Healthcare and Bioscience, have been established to help turn innovative ideas in to business opportunities.
About the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet
The Healthcare and Bioscience Innovation Network (iNet) is based at BioCity in Nottingham and covers the whole region.
The iNet concept was developed by emda and East Midlands Innovation (the Regional Science and Industry Council) to bring together businesses, colleges, universities, public sector representatives and individuals with a shared interest in a market or the technology that underpins it.
A key aim of iNet is to provide a sector-specific focus that enables organisations to exchange knowledge and form collaborations to exploit new ideas.
About Monica Healthcare
Monica Healthcare Ltd was formed in May 2005. This followed a successful £500K seed fund raising exercise and was the culmination of 15 years of research at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the School of Human Development at The University of Nottingham, UK. The lead investors are Catapult Venture Managers and Lachesis. An additional £1million second round funding was raised in May 2007.
Monica Healthcare is developing a series of innovative wearable devices that will use wireless technologies to facilitate globally accessible obstetric services in the home and hospital.
