From pioneering cricketers gloves to groundbreaking regenerative human tissue development – the cream of the West Midlands' innovative businesses were honoured at the Lord Stafford Awards.

Held for the ninth time, the awards showcase the West Midlands companies who have worked with universities and innovation programmes to develop new products or processes.

By bringing together the wealth of research and development work produced by universities and diverse business enterprises, the awards seek to generate increased competitiveness, knowledge, support, growth and economic prosperity for the region.

The Impact Through Innovation Award – sponsored by Advantage West Midlands – was won by Magnecell.

The accolade goes to the company that demonstrates the greatest impact for a product or process developed in association with a West Midlands university.

Magnecell, based at Keele University, was spun out from the university at the start of the year by Professor Jon Dobson and Professor Alicia El Haj, two of the world's leading academics in biotechnology. The company has developed an innovative bioreactor which can be used in the growth of tissue engineered products.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award – sponsored by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber – was won by Teardrop Technologies.

This award goes to an individual or business that can demonstrate a true entrepreneurial spirit.

Teardrop Technologies was set up by three sports technology graduates from the University of Wolverhampton who saw the possibility of pumping air into gloves to

increase the protection offered gloves and pads for batsmen. The company is based at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall Campus.

The Achievement in Innovation Award – sponsored by Manufacturing Advisory Service, West Midlands – was won by GSF.

This award goes to the business that can demonstrate the greatest benefits that have resulted from collaboration with a West Midlands university, where the product has been prototyped and marketed and is now available to buyers.

GSF, based in Oswestry, is the UK's leading supplier of telescopic slides and linear rails.

In 2004, the company was working on the development of a pioneering slide and tilt mechanism which could be used for fire and rescue vehicles, increasing the load capacity.

By working with the Polymer Cluster at the University of Wolverhampton – which provides research facilities for companies involved in polymers – the company was able to identify and purchase specialist machinery.

As a result, the product is already being exported to Spain, Portugal and Australia.

The West Midlands Knowledge Transfer Champion Award – sponsored by Coventry University Enterprises – was won by Dr Ederyn Williams of the University of Warwick.

This award goes to an individual who has demonstrated consistently creative solutions and whose cumulative efforts represent an outstanding contribution to their particular field of endeavour.

Dr Williams arrived at Warwick in 2000 and was responsible for the launch of Warwick Ventures, a company set up within the university to help transfer the results of research into fully fledged businesses.

Since then, more than 30 spin-out companies have launched and more than #8 million secured from the Higher Education Funding Council for the Spinner programme.

Dr Williams has also helped create Connect Midlands which has assisted over 500 new technology businesses to access the investment funds they require to meet their growth plans.

Lord Stafford, patron of the awards, said: "The Lord Stafford awards exist to showcase the excellent work that is going on in businesses and universities to innovate and develop new products and processes.

"Having an idea is one thing, but making it happen and make money from it is another. Each of the winners has, in their own way, shown true excellence and are worthy Lord Stafford Award winners."