The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) has achieved the runner-up title in the prestigious 2010 Environment YES (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme) competition.

The competition is run by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the University of Nottingham's Institute for Enterprise and Innovation.

It encourages young researchers working in natural environmental sciences to propel their research into the commercial sphere by developing skills in marketing, finance and intellectual property.

The GSNI team of four, Paul Wilson, Melanie Wrigley, Claire McGinn and Orla Gallagher, impressed a panel of investors with their hypothetical company, Tellus Technologies, when they presented their business idea for their invented product, WellSite.

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Aiming to improve the success rate of groundwater exploration by using technology, Wellsite assists drill operators in selecting the site that has the best probability of groundwater being struck, thus increasing success rates of water well drilling from 50% to 75%.

Tellus Technologies won their regional heat which was held in Edinburgh gaining them a place in the semi-final held in the County Hall, London.

They subsequently made it to the final two on the day and went through to a head-to head final, eventually finishing as runners up.

Commenting on their success, Paul Wilson, 'Managing Director' of the Tellus Technologies team said: "The standard of competition this year was particularly high and it is a tremendous achievement to have finished second.

"After winning the regional heat in Edinburgh, the GSNI team demonstrated how well it could compete against top teams from across the UK in the final head-to-head pitch to ten venture capitalists.

"The competition has shown us how it is possible to change research ideas into a business which brings value to others."

(BMcC/GK)