Serious business

Rejuvenating everyday objects, creating potential solutions for issues such as date rape and exploiting the tourist market in St Andrews - just a few of the innovative business ideas dreamed up by students for stage one of the Serious Business competition.

Seven business ideas were short listed out of twenty eight entries for this first 'Business Idea' round of the competition and will go on to share in over £1,000 of prize money.

John Mackenzie, Commercialisation Facilitator at Research and Innovation Services, who runs the Serious Business competition together with Dr Lawrence Dooley of the Centre for Enterprise Management said, "The competition is a catalyst for student entrepreneurs at the University of Dundee and allows us to select those entries that can also go on to compete in the national Scottish Institute for Enterprise Business Plan competition. We are extremely grateful to the Young Entrepreneurs Society which has been promoting the competition to its members".

Leyson Innovation & Design, a company established by Hannah Howson and Graeme Whaley, two final year students from the Department of Applied Computing, came up with the winning idea: hand manufactured, contemporary style computer systems. Their idea to create uniquely designed, high spec PCs is aimed at a young, fashion-conscious audience, looking for something livelier than the usual ‘grey box’ for their home or office. The idea has already caught the imagination of a national magazine, which has run features on the custom-designed PCs in two issues.

Innovative design ideas were not in short supply, with a number of other entries also looking for new approaches to everyday objects. A group of third year students came up with the idea for a flexible box that can clip onto the side of a drawing board or canvas. As the design of drawing boards does not lend itself to storing pens or pencils this would solve a problem common to designers, architects and artists.

Another group plans to take a fresh look at A3 carry folders, fixing design faults such as difficulty in holding and storing and creating a visually more desirable product.

Designs for women featured prominently, with two proposals addressing products for this specific market. A plastic glass, which can help prevent drinks being spiked in nightclubs, was one proposal put forward. On a less serious note, another proposal was for a device that would enable women to avoid using unhygienic toilets at festivals, while travelling or in any other unsanitary conditions.

A digital photography service at world-renowned golf courses in St Andrews was another innovative business idea - with the aim of capturing a magic moment for golfers who come from all over the world to play at such courses. And on a similar theme of capturing memories, a third year Time Based Art student from DJCAD came up with the idea of a personalised memorial service that would capture the best moments of a loved one, or even a pet.

The next stage of the competition involves producing a business plan by 12 April. John stressed, "The real secret is ultimately turning a business idea into a business opportunity and the production of a business plan at the next stage will help demonstrate the viability of the student business proposition".