Tony Blair unveils Millennium Products

2000 Products for the Millennium Dome

Full details see the Greenwich 2000: Millennium Product zone

More than 2000 world-beating UK products and services were unveiled as the first Millennium Products by the Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Tony Blair said: "Creativity in science, engineering, technology and design is of fundamental importance to the development of world class products and services which help businesses secure a competitive edge. That is why the Prime Minister challenged UK businesses in September 1997 to come up with 2000 world beating new products and services by the year 2000. The response to this Initiative has been extraordinary.

"Products designed to save lives, like a state of the art life-raft system for ships, an artificial heart for training surgeons and a versatile new water container that could have a huge impact on emergency aid programmes.

"Products designed to improve lives, like an intelligent wound dressing, or Blatchford's artificial limbs and a new, more environmentally friendly, passenger jet engine.

"Products designed to make life more secure such as Iris Recognition technology which recognises the pattern of your eye and so can help prevent crime.

"And products which are simply good fun - like the 'Jack' furniture modules.

"All Millennium Products are inspiring other companies to use high quality, forward thinking design to compete in a world market awash with new products."

First Millennium Products

Among the first Millennium Products to be selected under the nation-wide initiative run by the Design Council were:

• Gorix: a breakthrough in "smart materials", it conducts electricity through its fibres allowing them to be heated. Applications include diving suits, skiwear and blankets to combat hypothermia. have also been commissioned to create gloves for .

• SpinGrip Outsole: a significant new development in football boot (soccer) design, the SpinGrip's circular tread pattern allows the wearer to turn more quickly and easily, helping to prevent serious long-term knee and ankle injuries which affect star players and amateurs alike.

• Interactive Hand CD-ROM: has expanded the possibilities of 3D-computer animation, allowing surgeons to practise their skills in virtual reality. It is seen as a revolutionary educational resource.

• M&S Lorry: to reduce the noise and air pollution from trucks delivering to inner city stores, has created a fleet of vehicles run on liquid natural gas. Currently in service in London, tests show reductions of up to 89% in the levels of harmful particles and gases emitted, compared to conventional diesels.

• Lotus Elise: the award-winning Elise combines new technologies and innovative materials. The car relies on dramatic weight savings for its high performance, with a chassis made from extruded aluminium (aluminium) sections bonded together like an aircraft and brake discs made from a unique alloy composite.

Design Council Chairman John Sorrell praised the extraordinarily high quality and range of submissions from UK companies large and small.

"We've been overwhelmed by industry's response to this initiative, from specialist outfits through to some of the country's biggest names, such as Ford, , British Airways, , , and ," he said.

"From agriculture and automobiles to entertainment and the environment, it is clear that Britain is producing ground breaking products which successfully find markets world-wide."

Design Council Chief Executive Andrew Summers added: "It's exciting to see companies focusing on consumers and using adventurous design to create products and services that people want to use. The successful products are not just visions of the future, their benefits can be enjoyed right now, in industry, on the high street and at home."

Millennium Products was launched in September 1997 to identify, encourage and promote products and services which show how effectively British businesses are competing, both at home and abroad.

More than 1,000 companies responded to the Prime Minister's challenge and of those, 202 were selected by judging panels in February and March 1998.

There are three more "rounds" between now and the millennium.

Submissions for the next round - for which the closing date is 31 July 1998 - are already coming in.

Millennium Product Website

Please see the Official for full details of how to apply.

How to Apply for Millennium Product status?

There are three more rounds between now and the millennium. Submissions for the next round - for which the closing date is 31 July - are already coming in.

Submissions for the next round of Millennium Products can be made through the website, or alternatively by calling 0845 3066999 in the UK.

Other Millennium Product sites:

features some of the selected (takes time to download)

(a US based company) manufactures and markets unique safety products around the world.