Scientific prizes and awards / General

Nesta Prize

NESTA - the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

Description

NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, was set up by Act of Parliament in 1998. The purpose was to help create a vibrant, dynamic culture and economy by supporting and promoting innovation and creativity in the UK. To this end, the aims are to help talented individuals reach their potential, to help innovative ideas reach the market, and to contribute to public knowledge and appreciation of science, technology and the arts.

Recipients

Engineering & Technology :

Advanced Transport Systems, ULTra
Advanced Transport Systems Ltd (ATS) has designed a whole new type of urban transport – the ULTra (Urban Light Transport) system – which is cheaper, quicker, more direct, more energy efficient and more passenger friendly than buses, taxis or trains. NESTA funds have helped ATS promote the revolutionary system to a worldwide market and develop a business case that will see it become a common part of city life around the globe.

Symetrica
Symetrica is developing world leading technology to enable the rapid and accurate identification of potentially threatening radioactive materials. NESTA’s support is helping the company to commercially exploit its technology, which could make a major contribution to screening and monitoring systems for homeland security.

Science & Medicine :

CellCentric
CellCentric is investigating epigenetics and its role in developing new pharmaceutical products for fighting disease, with a particular focus on cancer therapeutics.

Aquapharm Bidiscovery Ltd.
AquaPharm Bio-Discovery Ltd will beachcomb tidal areas to find and develop new drugs and antibiotics, including a new compound found to be active against the hospital ‘superbug’ MRSA. NESTA funding will help them to work out the exact structure of the antibiotic and help with patent protection.

Science Education :

Digital Science
NESTA has joined with the Wellcome Trust for an education initiative, Digital Science, to support the development of innovative, new media approaches aimed at engaging young people with the social and ethical issues in science.

Flipside, Institute of Electrical Engineers
Flipside is a new commercially designed magazine aimed at 11-14 year-olds, featuring articles on music, movies, gadgets – and just a touch of science, technology and engineering. With a free copy being provided to every secondary school library in the country, NESTA’s Learning award will allow the magazine to launch in the hope of influencing positive perceptions of science in teen readers.