Dexela wins International Trade Award

Dexela has beaten off four other finalists to win the International Innovation category at the 2008 London Passport to Export Awards, the capital’s premier international business awards scheme.

The awards recognise the achievements of SMEs in trading overseas under UK Trade & Investment’s (UKTI) Passport to Export programme of advice and support for new and inexperienced exporters. They were presented to winners in five categories at a ceremony in Westminster on 24 June hosted by writer and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli.

Guest speakers included Tim Parker, recently appointed First Deputy Mayor of London and Chief Executive of the GLA Group; and Alan Ainsbury, Head of Trade Finance Sales at awards sponsor Barclays Commercial Bank.

In his keynote speech, Tim Parker said: "The types of innovative and efficient business we are recognising tonight are critical to the success of London's economy. The Mayor's Office intends to do all it can to promote the capital's commercial sector to international markets, as well as working with the boroughs and trade bodies across London to create the right environment for our small businesses to grow."

In choosing Dexela for the International Innovation award, the judges focused on its ability to continuously innovate; its growth from two to 12 full-time employees; and its bold decision to go after key collaborative partners irrespective of national borders.

Dexela’s new low-dose 3D X-ray breast imaging technology can significantly reduce the number of false negatives and false positives generated by breast cancer scanning, allowing the earlier detection of cancer and reducing the occurrence of call-backs. The company has also developed the leading intellectual property position covering powerful methods to acquire, process and visualise data from 3D X-ray breast imaging.

Dexela’s international business development plan is central to its success. The Passport to Export programme helped the company identify the most appropriate medical device manufacturing partners in the USA, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Italy, and build relationships with them to provide access to the global medical imaging market. UKTI facilitated Dexela’s attendance at international exhibitions and conferences, where they could network with key industry players and researchers with connections to potential partners.

The company has also won a major DTI Technology Programme grant with University College London and Oxford University, and is set to present its technology at a Digital Mammography conference in July in Tucson, Arizona.

Edward Bullard, Chief Executive of Dexela, said: “We are delighted with this award which is an endorsement of Dexela’s innovative approach to commercialisation of our IP in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis internationally. We have received great support and advice from our UKTI advisor throughout and we are indebted to UKTI for the recognition awarded to us which will help us to accelerate our product development for acquisition, processing and visualisation of high resolution 3D images of the breast.”

International Trade Director for London, Martin Cook, concluded: “UKTI’s aim is to develop the capacity of businesses to successfully trade internationally and to penetrate new markets. Dexela is exactly the kind of innovative, knowledge-driven, R&D business we want London to be known for.”


Notes to Editors
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1. For further information on Dexela, visit www.dexelaimaging.com
If you are interested in an interview with Dexela, please contact Simon Holder on 020 7261 8342 or email simon.holder@coi.gsi.gov.uk

2. The London Passport to Export Awards were presented in a ceremony on 24 June at the Church House Conference Centre, Dean’s Yard, Westminster, SW1P 3NZ. For further information about this year’s awards, visit www.passportawardslondon.org.uk

3. The London Passport to Export Awards scheme – the only one of its kind in the capital – recognises the achievements of SMEs in trading overseas under UK Trade & Investment’s (UKTI) flagship Passport to Export support programme of strategic advice and support for new and inexperienced exporters. The winners in the five award categories were:

• Knomo Bags Ltd - Outstanding Achievement through Passport to Export (sponsored by Barclays Commercial Bank):
This award goes to a company that has had exceptional success on the Passport to Export Programme and has exceeded all expectations. The recipient shows the initiative, the resource and a strong desire to succeed in exporting.
• Dexela Ltd - International Innovation (sponsored by London Chamber of Commerce and Industry):
This award goes to a company that has engaged in longer-term innovation activity or a product/service development that has made a significant difference to the success of its business overseas.
• Today was Fun - Best Newcomer (sponsored by GLE Group):
This award goes to a company exporting for the first time, which has had significant success in breaking into overseas markets.
• Evolve Creative - Emerging Markets Exporter (sponsored by the London Development Agency):
This award goes to a company that has had considerable success in breaking into a high-growth emerging market(s).
• Octopus Media Technology - Best Use of UK Trade & Investment Services:
This award goes to a company that has best used UK Trade & Investment services, resulting in exceptional success in overseas markets.

For further information about the Passport to Export Awards, 2008, visit www.passportawardslondon.org.uk

4. Passport to Export is UK Trade & Investment’s flagship programme for new and inexperienced exporters, providing the training, planning and ongoing support needed to begin a successful export operation. Companies receive a business health check, mentoring from a local export professional, an individual export plan and a range of developmental training options. Now in its sixth year, the Passport to Export programme has attracted well over 1,200 companies in the London area.

5. UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that supports British companies engaged in international trade and those wishing to locate and invest in the UK. UK Trade & Investment in London aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through their network of International Trade Advisers who offer experience across a wide range of different markets and countries.

6. For more information on how UK Trade & Investment can help small and medium sized businesses, please visit our website www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk or contact info@uktilondon.org.uk; tel. 020 7234 3000.

7. UKTI’s London regional team is dedicated to increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in the capital through international sales development. A team of International Trade Advisers delivers tailored help to businesses who are either exporting for the first time or looki