Bushfire shelter wins global award
Bushfire shelter wins global award
04 June 2010
published by www.swinburne.edu.au
Australia — A business plan to produce a unique series of above-ground bushfire shelters has taken out the 2010 Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) Global Award.
Designed by student entrepreneurs Andrew Thomas and Alison Durham from Swinburne University of Technology, Encase bushfire shelters are free-standing, above-ground and offer maximum accessibility.
We developed this technology in response to the deadly bushfires that swept through Victoria, Australia on 7 February 2009 killing over 170 people. Since then there has been growing concern over the nature, risk and severity of bushfires in Australia and in other Mediterranean climates, Encase CEO Andrew Thomas said.
From the footage of the bushfires as well as market research, it was clear that the most important feature of the shelter should be accessibility so we designed them to be above ground to maximise this.
During the Victorian bushfires, many people lost their houses as they werent able to stay and defend them. But if those affected can stay safe on site which our product allows for they stand a good chance of saving their house.
Thomas said that the Swinburne teaching staff, LES judges and their mentor were very encouraging and pushed EncaseTM to make their plan better leading up to the competition.
Coming from Australia, it often feels like were a long way away from things. So the opportunity to be in the US at a global event has been incredible for us, said Thomas.
The prestigious award, worth USD$5,000, is presented annually as part of the LES Foundations International Graduate Student Business Plan Competition. This is the third consecutive year Swinburne has received the award.
Almost 40 teams entered this years LES Foundation Competition which attracts student entrepreneurs from across the globe who submit business plans that hinge on groundbreaking technologies and services.
During the event, the Global Award is presented by LESI to recognise the team whose plan best deals with IP rights and their use in the global business environment.
