Engineering award winner chips in with solution built on food waste
26 Nov 2018
A 23 year-old company co-founder has won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Launchpad Competition for the most promising engineering entrepreneur, for his eco-friendly alternative to MDF.
Rowan Minkley, CEO of Chip[s] Board, pioneered the substitute which relies on industrial potato waste.
He received the academy’s JC Gammon Award, including £15,000 worth of funding and membership to the RAE Enterprise Hub, at a ceremony attended by Princess Anne.
Said Minkley: “It is a real privilege to be this year’s Launchpad Competition winner; it is a fantastic validation of my idea.
“Gaining membership to the Enterprise Hub will give Chip[s] Board a vital financial boost, as well as the mentorship and the expertise to scale up my business. I’m both grateful and proud to be joining this network of world-class engineers.”
The event was the fifth annual Launchpad event, set up by the RAE to encourage more young people to start and grow their own engineering businesses.
Pic: (clockwise from left) Rowan Minkley; People's Choice Award winner, prosthetic designer Nate Macabuag; and guest Princess Anne.
See below for an explanation of the Chip[s] Board process.
