Type B Liquid Explosive Detection Systems, Bottle Scanners for Screening of Liquids & Gels

Cobalt was founded in 2008 as a spin-out from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The company received support and funding from the UK Government and from STFC to develop a prototype of its liquids scanner and the result was the Insight100, which can detect dangerous chemicals in unopened containers within a few seconds. The Insight100 is now installed in more than 70 airports in the UK and across Europe, with further deployments in Asia and Australasia.

Backed by further funding from Innovate UK, Cobalt is now about to launch the Insight200M, a more compact system with improved sensitivity. Insight200M has already met European aviation standards (ECAC Standard 3) and it has been designed to address the stringent environmental regulations and detection capabilities required for export to the US and worldwide.

Cobalt’s Chief Operating Officer, Craig Tombling said: “We’re extremely pleased to receive this award. It symbolises how targeted funding from Government to SMEs can contribute to world-beating technology and innovation.”

Professor Pavel Matousek – Cobalt Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Professor at STFC’s Central Laser Facility – developed the original concept, known as Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy. He said: “Cobalt’s innovative products have gone from strength to strength and I’m really pleased that its latest product has been recognised once again as a leading innovation. It’s also gratifying from a personal viewpoint to see our early scientific work at STFC producing technology that is both versatile and effective in addressing some of the many grand challenges we face today.”

Over the past two years Cobalt Light Systems has doubled the number of people it employs, from 21 to 42, and uses a network of distributors across Europe who are trained to sell and distribute the scanners. As a consequence, Cobalt achieved a 5-fold growth in revenue between 2013 and 2014.

Presenting the prize at the Houses of Parliament, Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson praised Cobalt’s rapid growth and development of products. He said: “I'm delighted that Cobalt Light Systems has benefited from Innovate UK support and has won this award. It's good to know that Cobalt's airport scanners are keeping people safe around the world.”

For more information:

1. The Innovate UK Small Business Innovation Awards identified 22 companies which were shortlisted for awards in five categories:

• Innovation leading to business transformation
• Innovation leading to new markets
• Innovation leading to productivity improvement
• Innovation attracting investment
• Inspirational innovation award

Full list and further details – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sme-innovation-awards-celebrate-success

2. Innovate UK works with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy – delivering productivity, new jobs and exports. Our aim at Innovate UK – the government's innovation agency – is to keep the UK globally competitive in the race for future prosperity. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

3. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and ensuring global security. STFC is one of seven publicly-funded research councils. It is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). www.stfc.ac.uk.

4. The Central Laser Facility (CLF) at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is one of the world’s leading laser facilities providing scientists from the UK and Europe with an unparalleled range of state of the art technology. Wide-ranging laser applications include experiments in physics, chemistry and biology, accelerating subatomic particles to high energies, probing chemical reactions and studying biochemical and biophysical processes. Our laser facilities range from advanced, compact tuneable lasers which can pinpoint individual particles to high power laser installations that recreate the conditions inside stars. A vigorous development programme ensures that our facilities maintain their international competitiveness.