Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

The technology concepts behind Antenova stem from a research collaboration of Sheffield University and Griffith University in Australia, originally to solve the problem of producing an antenna to monitor electrical signals from rock blasting and earthquake activity.

Sheffield University app-roached Pilgrim Beart, CEO of RF location solutions company activeRF, for funding to support a PhD programme on antenna design.

After conducting some commercial and technical due diligence, it was decided to form a separate company to exploit the intellectual property and Antenova was formed.

Antenova negotiated the IP rights to antenna technology developed at the universities in exchange for equity. While R & D continued, Beart researched the industry, raised seed funding, filed patents and built a management team of Graham Cooley (CEO), Anthony Winter (chairman), and Gary Compton, company secretary.

Last September Antenova demonstrated a prototype for the first time on a cell phone, comparing the performance against an identical mobile phone with its standard antenna. Antenova’s tiny prototype outperformed the conventional wound copper antenna.

This work was followed by the construction and testing of an initial design concept for a base station with electronically controlled real time beam-steering.

Further seed funding was secured last October when IPR deals with the universities were finalised. First round funding of £3.4m, led by Cambridge Gateway Fund, followed in April, providing the financial resources to implement Antenova’s plans.

From its Cambridge HQ, Antenova is commercialising the antenna concepts into manufacturable products for a number of wireless markets and establishing relationships with early adopters and technical and marketing partners.

• The East of England Business Awards carry tremendous kudos as well as glittering prizes, to be presented when the winners are unveiled at a gala dinner in Cambridge next February.

Entries from companies of all sizes and stages of development are welcome and fledgling companies don’t have to produce accounts. Entering provides tremendous PR and a boost for staff, suppliers, clients and investors.

You can enter more than one of the categories featured alongside this article and an entry form is on the facing page. And don’t delay - the sooner you enter the process, the more thoroughly you will be judged.