Accutronics earns £100k Smart Award

Accutronics won the grant for a new battery for medical devices. Named Chameleon, the new product range includes high voltage, high current smart batteries which are designed and certified with the needs of medical OEMs in mind. Managing director Rob Phillips said: "When you work in an SME, you are busy all the time and often feel like you can't take time off to apply for grants. However, it's crucial for manufacturers to invest in innovation and make sure they engage in programmes that support those R&D efforts." "The funding we received from the Technology Strategy Board and their ongoing support has fast tracked our product development strategy for Chameleon. We were able to design and bring a product to market much quicker." Accutronics secured its first grant from the Technology Strategy Board in September 2009 when it was awarded a £3000 Innovation Voucher to commission a consultant to design robust battery cases which were later introduced into the company's product offering as rugged battery designs. In 2010 the battery manufacturer also undertook a successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Project with Aston University and as a result, Accutronics were able to recruit a senior member of staff into their research and development team.