Calling all innovators

Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." So said the great American economist Theodore Levitt, the man widely regarded as the 'inventor' of globalisation.

There was certainly no shortage of 'new things' entered into last year's inaugural Timber Innovation Award - jointly sponsored by Timber Expo and TRADA - at the TTJ Awards.

"Simple yet ingenious" were the words used to describe the winner, SHERPA Connection Systems' product which comprises two aluminium elements that work together to form an approved and tested, inverted, dovetail joint, capable of supporting heavy loads.

Innovation, it seems, is high on everyone's agenda. Recent research from TRADA revealed that, from 170 respondents asked which areas were of most interest to them, new, innovative products and systems scored higher than any other topic.

And, because TRADA and Timber Expo are so passionate about encouraging innovation in the timber industry, the winners and runners-up of this year's TTJ Timber Innovation Award will be given an even greater opportunity to promote their products at Timber Expo at Birmingham's NEC on September 24-25.

Each will be given space to exhibit the relevant objects, placed on plinths in the exhibition hall. Six speaker slots (one for the winner and up to five runners-up) will also be up for grabs, filling a half-day seminar session in one of the main theatres at Timber Expo.

"This will provide an excellent platform to demonstrate the high levels of innovation in the timber industry today," said Rupert Scott, TRADA's membership and marketing manager. "TRADA believes passionately in innovation and by giving the winners and runners-up of this year's Timber Innovation Award a greater focus at Timber Expo we are providing further exposure for their high levels of expertise."

After a record number of 27 entries last year it was a tough test for the judges to agree on a final 10 - something likely to be repeated in 2013. Successful innovation is about uptake and a sustainable future use, not necessarily the relatively simple production of a new product or system. Invention is about creation. Innovation is about its adoption.

"There is much scope for timber to innovate and it is absolutely necessary if we are to grow the market in a stagnant construction sector," said Mr Scott. "It was very encouraging to receive such a high quantity and quality of entries in the first year of this award. We are hoping for similar levels of entry for 2013 - and even greater innovation!"

Last year's shortlisted entries included Lonza Wood Protection's TANALITH E 8000, a culmination of detailed and specific research and development initiatives into industrial wood preservatives; Timoleon Ltd's Lowboard, a 13mm-thick underfloor heating base board for wood and other flooring types that accepts 12mm underfloor heating pipe; and Roofspace Solutions' RoofSpace I Roof, an offsite manufactured and timber engineered panellised roof and wall system that provides.

"We expect a strong number of high-calibre entries this year," said Mr Scott. "It might make our job difficult - but we wouldn't want it any other way! The TTJ Timber Innovation Award highlights just how focused this industry is on advancing the technical and market potential of timber and wood products and the level of inventiveness and ingenuity in the sector."

TTJ Timber Innovation Award entry criteria
Organisations/individuals may enter this award category providing:

• they either manufacture, distribute or own the property rights to the product/system;
• the product is fully or partially made using timber materials OR assists with timber based building materials (for example, paints, coatings, adhesives, fixings etc);
• the product/system meets appropriate UK Building Regulation and health and safety standards;
• the product must have been launched on the market at the time of making this application.

Entrants should contact Julie Hockin at jhockin@trada.co.uk or on 01494 569642 for an entry form, to be completed and returned by June 21. Judging will be completed by July 16. The TTJ Awards take place at The Savoy in London on Thursday September 12. To book tickets or for details of sponsorship opportunities, contact Carol Stratford on cstratford@ttjonline.com or 01795 589 236.

To enter any of the other judged categories of the TTJ Awards, Excellence in Marketing, Career Development, Achievement in Engineered Timber, Environmental Achievement and Website of the Year, contact Mike Jeffree at mjeffree@ttjonline.com, or on 020 8269 7794 or Sally Spencer at sspencer@ttjonline.com, or on 020 8269 7817. The deadline for entries for these Awards categories is July 12.