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University looks for visionary inventions for sight loss charity

29/09/2016

The Caparo Innovation Centre, based at the University of Wolverhampton, has launched a pioneering competition in conjunction with the region’s leading sight loss charity, The Beacon Centre.

Businesses and inventors are being encouraged to sign up for the Beacon Visionary+ Challenge which is offering a £20,000 prize fund – a combination of a cash investment and ‘in-kind’ support provided by the Caparo Innovation Centre.

The challenge aims to find innovative products or services which can benefit those affected by sight loss.  Ideas and inventions could include gadgets that help make the simplest of tasks much easier or innovations that can transform lives.  The challenge is open to anyone over the age of 18 - individuals, groups or companies - and they should be able to demonstrate a positive social impact through the development of innovation that supports people with visual and other sensory and cognitive impairments. 

Picture of Professor Andrew Pollard

Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of Product Innovation at the Caparo Innovation Centre, said: ‘We are excited to be working with the Beacon Centre to deliver the Visionary+ Challenge and we’re looking forward to working with inventors and entrepreneurs to help them develop products which can really make a difference to people’s lives.”

The aim of the challenge is to encourage innovation into products that can benefit those with sight loss and also to help bring the winning product or service to the open market faster and more effectively.

The competition is open and accepting applications up until the 31st October 2016. Further information and full competition details are available online through the dedicated challenge website at https://www.beaconvision.org/the-competition

ENDS

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: 30th September 2016

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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