Hub Company defies dragons to win £25,000
Canterbury Enterprise Hub company Ancon technologies won £25,000 after a Dragon’s den-style ordeal. The company, which has developed technology that can detect single molecules of organic compounds, scooped the award at this year’s Kent Innovation Challenge. Ancon’s equipment has many uses, including the detection of explosives.
The Kent Innovation Challenge is an annual contest organised by the Sittingbourne Enterprise Hub that aims to discover exciting business ideas in Kent and Medway with the potential to succeed commercially. It is sponsored and supported by the Medway, Sittingbourne and Canterbury Enterprise Hubs (Universities of Kent and Greenwich), Vertex Law, Lavender Blue Media, Kent County Council, Natwest, Business Link Kent, EMC and Kent Science Park.
Dr John Dodd, Sittingbourne Enterprise Hub Director, said, “Ancon Technologies was able to demonstrate a new technology with a tremendous number of potential uses. The Dragon’s panel was excited by its market potential and potential global interest in its product. The three SEEDA-sponsored Hubs are able to help business-driven individuals with a pioneering idea grow their business, and we are looking already to next year’s challenge, which will open in late 2006.”
Dr Robert Muir, Commercial Director at Ancon Technologies, said, “We are delighted to win theKent Innovation Challenge. We are in the process of arranging a trial of the unit on explosives detection at a major UK port, and the £25,000 prize will help enormously.”
Author: Dr John Dodd
Created Date: 23-08-2006
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