University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University Students Partner to Reach the Final of the Engineers in Business Innovation Competition

On 26 October 2020, Ignacio Gonzalez-Alcalde, an International Business Management BSc from Anglia Ruskin University, and Robert Kunzmann, an Engineering PhD from University of Cambridge, will compete against nine other university teams to win a prestigious Engineers in Business Competition (EIBC) Award, a share of £10,000 and business mentoring from a Sainsbury Management Fellow.

The EIBC supports and promotes the idea of a combined engineering and business education and provides prize funding to universities to help them encourage more engineers and technology students/graduates to get involved in innovation and entrepreneurship. In a world that is moving and developing so rapidly, these skills are vital to help tackle challenging global problems and to improve our lives. 

This year, Ignacio and Robert were the winners of Anglia Ruskin University’s innovation competition and won £3,000 from EIBC for creating AC Biode, a business dedicated to tackling climate change and air pollution by creating the world’s first standalone AC battery. They then entered and won a place in the national EIBC Champion of Champions Final where they are competing for a Business Start-up Award and a further £3,000. The cash prize will go towards the ongoing development of AC Biode.

AC Biode – Developing the world’s first standalone AC battery

Imagine a world where electric transport is not an exception, but a rule. AC Biode is making that vision a reality by developing the world’s first standalone AC battery using new, self-developed ‘biode’ technology. Compared with current DC Li-ion batteries, AC Biode’s new battery is safer, more efficient and has double the lifecycle.

The pair have already received two patents and are going for two more this year. Kunzmann commented:

“One day we were watching Apollo 13. We saw that Tom Hanks’ character had lost power in space and his only chance to survive was to optimise the entire system, not just the batteries. This got us thinking. What if we applied the same approach to electric vehicles? This is how we started to develop the first-ever standalone AC battery called AC Biode. The “Biode” is a new word that we created. Compared to current DC batteries, it’s thought that AC batteries will be safer due to their lower voltage and will have around 30% higher capacity. 

“Batteries are obviously a critical component of electric vehicles. We believe our breakthrough innovation can make the global transition to electric vehicles faster, cheaper and safer.”

The Awards Presentation Ceremony – 26 October 2020

The live online dragons’ den style competition will be compered by TV presenter and engineer, Kate Bellingham. Competing against nine other teams, Ignacio and Robert will have just six minutes to convince the judges, through their presentation and Q&As, that they should be crowned Champion of Champions and take home a £3,000 Business Start-up Award. Amongst other criteria, the judges will be assessing just how much of an impact AC Biode can have on target customers and how it will solve real-world problems regarding climate change, air pollution and the transition to electric vehicles.

The prestigious judging panel comprises: 

●    Ana Avaliani, Associate Director, Enterprise, Royal Academy of Engineering

●    Gareth Trainer, Chair, Enterprise Educators UK

●    Henning von Spreckelsen, Director and Investor in Plastecowood

●    Steve Cleverley, CEO, Oxentia Ltd, Global Innovation Consultancy

As a postgraduate with a PhD in Engineering, Kunzmann is passionate about business education for other engineers and technologists. He said:

“Innovation plays a crucial role in the progress of humanity. Students should not just be taught business innovation skills, they should also be encouraged to think outside of the box. They should be keen to develop their ideas and unafraid of failure. Students pursuing their ideas put their academic knowledge into practice, developing self-discipline and creating their own responsibilities, knowing that if they stop working on their projects no one will work for them. This innovation environment creates a collaborative and supportive climate for entrepreneur students. At university, students can take advantage of the existing university infrastructure, such as labs, conferences and workshops, as well as a network of institutions, businesses and a wide range of other stakeholders – all ensuring that entrepreneur students are supported enough to grow and thrive.”