New Award to Stimulate Cutting-Edge Biomimetics Research – University of Reading
12 October 2006A new £5,000 award will develop the career of an outstanding biomimetics expert by allowing them to further develop their career and knowledge. Biomimetics - the discipline of looking to nature for inspiration for new technologies and designs – is rapidly yielding new, commercially successful, technologies. Self-cleaning paint, novel adhesives, robots, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and self-healing materials have all recently been launched and are being rapidly taken up by consumers. The first BIONIS Biomimetics Award, sponsored by venture philanthropic organisation Swedish Biomimetics 3000®, will enable an outstanding person to undertake technical visits to experience, at first hand, cutting edge biomimetics around the world and to develop their career in biomimetics while contributing to the development of new technologies inspired by nature. Applications for the award are being accepted from today (October 12 2006). It is being sponsored by Swedish Biomimetics 3000® and is being organised by BIONIS - Biomimetics Network for Industrial Sustainability. A BIONIS spokesman said: "This prize will raise the awareness of Biomimetics and will help to establish it as one of the key enabling disciplines for the technologies of the future." Lars-Uno Larsson, founder and CEO of Swedish Biomimetics 3000® said: "We are very pleased to sponsor this pivotal BIONIS Biomimetic Award in an exciting and rapidly evolving global scientific and market place." The award winner will undertake their visits during summer 2007 and present an invited lecture on their work at the prestigious Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution on Thursday 20th September, 2007. The winner will experience other research and development environments and strengthen links between their own organisation and others around the world. Hosts will benefit from the participation of a leading researcher in their organisation. ENDS Notes for editors The BIONIS network was set up in spring 2002 by Prof. George Jeronimidis, Prof. Julian Vincent and Phil Sheppard. Membership is now over 250, with members from academia and industry in more than 40 countries. The mission of the network is to promote the application of Biomimetics in products and services and its use in education and training. It is currently supported by Swedish Biomimetics 3000® and hosted by the University of Reading. Swedish Biomimetics 3000® AB is a VPO focussed on Biomimetics. Its mission is to fund translational research of Biomimetic concepts to the point where they are considered commercial candidates. Further details may be found at BIONIS or obtained by email bionis@reading.ac.uk For media information contact Lucy Ferguson, Senior Press Officer, at: L.Ferguson@reading.ac.uk