Member Article

Double success for SPARK Impact at Bionow awards

Two companies from The North West Fund for Biomedical portfolio, managed by SPARK Impact, were among the winners of this year’s prestigious Bionow Annual Awards.

Perfectus Biomedical and Credent Medical were named winners during the ceremony which is one the major events for the UK biomedical sector showcasing the very best in this world class industry.

Perfectus Biomed, based at Sci-Tech Daresbury was named as the winner of the ‘Bionow Start Up of the Year’ award. The company specialises in the testing of biofilm encased bacteria in which infections have been linked to chronic non-healing wounds, failed medical implants and catheter infections.

Set up in 2013 having identified a gap in the market for laboratory testing that assessed antimicrobial testing, Perfectus Biomed offers customised microbiology testing to a number of sectors including wound care, medical devices, surface antimicrobials, contact lenses, dentistry and water treatment. The company has also been shortlisted for the The Business Growth Hub Start-Up Award in the Medilink Awards 2014.

Credent Medical, based at Liverpool Science Park won the ‘Bionow Healthcare Project of the Year’ award for Changing Lives, a unique non–invasive blood glucose monitor.

Managed by SPARK Impact, The North West Fund for Biomedical is a sub-fund of The North West Fund, a substantial pot of money jointly financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank and available to invest in small and medium sized businesses in the North West of England to support their start-up, development and growth.

Other SPARK Impact companies named among the shortlist included: Newtec Vascular Products, Prokyma, LumbaCurve, Compliance Control, Albert Medical Devices and Videregen. Albert Medical Devices has also been nominated for the HGF Innovation Award in the Medilink Awards 2014 – for the development of an innovative technology, design or process.

Dr Samantha Westgate, business and scientific director of Perfectus Biomed, said: “We are really happy to have received the Bionow start up award. The Perfectus team have been working extremely hard to establish the company and to ensure we have systems in place to offer a quality service. This award recognises the hard work the team puts in every day.

“Over the last 12 months we have worked hard to increase our client base significantly in terms of the number of companies we support, the size and geography of those companies and the sectors that we are able to support, which has led to a 35 per cent increase in annual turnover.”

Dr Andy Round, investment director at SPARK Impact, said: “We are very happy Perfectus Biomed and Credent Medical have been named winners in this year’s Bionow 2014 Awards.

“This is a prestigious event showcasing the very best companies in the region and we are proud to have invested in these technologies that have great potential in the biomedical sector. They represent the quality companies we have invested within the region and we look forward to seeing continued success.”

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