ANU startup wins national innovation awards

Publication date
Friday, 20 Nov 2015
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High-technology company Liquid Instruments, started by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU), has won four national innovation awards at the annual Tech23 2015 Awards.

The company was started by Professor Daniel Shaddock from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering to make high-technology instruments for use by scientists and engineers.

The company has already raised more than $1 million in venture capital from ANU Connect Ventures and Australian Capital Ventures Ltd.

"I am really proud of what the Liquid Instruments team has achieved and these awards just highlight this," Professor Shaddock said.

"We started shipping our first product last month and this week we passed $100,000 in revenue.

"It is hard to believe that it's less than a year since Liquid Instruments received its first funding. Every member of the team has done an amazing job."

Liquid Instruments won the most awards overall and prizes worth more than $19,000. The awards included the Data 61 Digital Disruption Award, a $7,500 cash prize awarded to the company which demonstrates the best use of a digital technology to create new unique value.

Professor Shaddock also took out the Tech 23 2015 People's Choice award for his engaging presentation.

"The exposure from Tech23 put us in touch with industry leaders that will help us to scale from startup to a thriving company," Professor Shaddock said.

ANU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Innovation) Professor Mick Cardew-Hall congratulated Liquid Instruments on the awards.

"Liquid Instruments is a great example of the ANU effectively supporting researchers to commercialise their intellectual property by incubating successful startup companies," Professor Cardew-Hall said.

Liquid Instruments is also a finalist in The Australian Innovation Challenge Awards 2015 to be announced on 25 November.

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