Impact through innovation
Dundee-based software technology company Realtime Worlds  has put Scotland on the map for gamers - developing some of the world’s best selling computer games, including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, which has sold over 6mcopies worldwide. 

It wins the award with the technology used in their new game, All Points Bulletin (APB), set to release in summer, featuring  unique customisation in a  system that allows players define exactly how they want their character to look in-game.

“APB gives the player complete control over how their character looks – every aspect of the face and body can be tailored and an exclusive wardrobe can be created. This means that players will never see another player who looks exactly the same. Even the vehicles used in-game can be repainted, customised, and upgraded to suit the player's preferences," explains (right) Colin Macdonald, of Realtime Worlds.

Early impact through innovation
Scottish entrepreneur Sandy Sullivan (right) is changing the funeral industry and the options available to people when they die, with his firm Resomation Ltd.

First there was burial, its alternative eco-sky burial, and cremation. Now we attain resomation, an environmentally beneficial alternative to cremation,  dignified and respectfully developed in response to increasing environmental concern and awareness. Key aspects of the overall process are patent pending.

A funeral involving resomation is exactly the same as one involving cremation But the coffin is placed in a special chamber. Instead of fire, resomation uses a water and alkali based method, the same but much quicker chemistry than that of natural decomposition.

The resomation process takes roughly the same time as cremation so the funeral ceremony will be the same. However, it uses less energy than cremation, produces significantly less CO2 and avoids putting mercury and other harmful contaminants into the atmosphere.  Bone remains are left in the form of pure white ash.

Entrepreneurial spirit
David Goutcher of Polybius Games has developed ‘Super Spy Camp’ , an online interactive game for children, which can be played within hotels, cruise ships and holiday parks worldwide. The game issues players with missions which they complete by finding and solving clues in the grounds of the hotel. The stories behind the games can be tailored to each resort.



Goucher, a former Strathclyde police inspector, has already secured deals with Macdonald Hotels and Resorts and Center Parcs.

Knowledge Transfer Champion
OptoSwim Technologies,  was honoured with the ‘Knowledge Transfer Champion’ award, though some innovative web builder should offer him a website!

Sunil Kadri (right) recipient of countless awards, developed a specially configured LED lighting matrix which stimulates optimal swimming speeds in farmed fish such as salmon, significantly improving their growth levels and meat quality.

The invention is thought to have the potential to revolutionise fish farming worldwide.

“The optomotor response is something that most people will have experienced," says Kadri. "For example, have you ever sat on a stationary train while the train next to it is moving? The strange sensation of movement that this creates is called the optomotor response. OptoSwim Technologies uses a system of flashing lights to illicit this response in schooling fish, which causes them to swim faster and further.”

Social Enterprise Innovator
Eco Drama is an educational theatre company whose Emily Reid (left) trained at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, and has since worked as a director, workshop leader, performer and devisor in both the UK and abroad. It brings shows and workshops to children, young people & the wider community. The  aim is to engage and educate in the values of caring and being responsible for the natural world, placing particular emphasis on theatre as a tool for education which is inspiring, motivational and fun.

Uniquely touring in The Magic Van, a vehicle run on renewable bio diesel, Eco Drama liven up core environmental topis and motivate children, young people and the community towards leading greener healthier lifestyles.

Young innovator
Trace Ward (right) of About Tack Ltd has been crowned one of Scotland’s best for her revolutionary horse saddle, which she  developed while working as a horse trainer on Hollywood blockbuster The Last Samurai.

She came up with her innovative idea while riding horses and brandishing swords on the set of the Tom Cruise epic. She says: 

“Humans have ridden horses for around 6,000 years, and modern-day saddles are based on a design that has changed very little over the past 2,000 years.

We had difficulties with saddle fittings on set because the people who do the horses ‘costumes’ had to produce 50 saddles, each fitted specifically for each horse – and of course the horses form changes during the year.  With current saddles, there’s little room for change. My new saddle is much easier to adapt.”

Left: The Cross under bit-less bridle, a US invention is also available from About Tack.

Outstanding Achievement in Innovation
This discretionary award went  to Glasgow born chip-and-pin inventor James Goodfellow OBE.The 73-year-old was honoured for his contribution to Scottish innovation.

Pioneered in 1965 to allow banking customers more flexible access to their money a solution to automatic money dispensing was created. In order to protect customers and their cash, our recipient this evening devised a machine readable and decidable Personal Identification Number – known to us now a PIN number.

 
This innovation solved the problem of securely accessing money from ATM Cash Machines and has been adopted across the world and is still the only ATM Cash Access system in use today, 45 years and 1.5m installed machines later. In addition, POS (point of sale terminals) now use the system.

It has also been a double edged sword allowing Russian computer hackers, with cloned debit cards and pin numbers to achieve a heist from 2000 cash machines in 280 cities world wide of £6m from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 12 hours.

Award Winners