INVENTIONS from five Oxfordshire companies were among the winners in the last list of Millennium Products unveiled today by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Powderject Pharmaceuticals, an Oxford University spin-off firm exploiting research by academics and based on Oxford Science Park, has won Millennium Products status for its revolutionary replacement for the injection needle, which delivers drugs in powdered form painlessly through the patient's skin.

Oxford Optronix has been selected for its Oxylite system which could drastically improve cancer treatment by providing an exact measure of the oxygen concentration in a tumour.

Abingdon firm Oxford Sensor Technology has come up with a 3D laser guiding device for use with welders that need to be precisely positioned.

Harwell hi-tech company AEA Technology has seen two of its innovations win the accolade. Its new lighter lithium-ion batteries give higher power and are more environmentally friendly than traditional batteries.

Also from AEA Technology comes V-Tex, a system that saves costs and minimises pollution while treating gaseous waste. Another Harwell company, Regenesys, which is owned by National Power, was chosen for an electricity storing system.

An announcement is expected soon on which products will be displayed in the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

Story date: Tuesday 14 December

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