Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/374383
10 Business Today maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 2014 MCA eBusiness Awards 2013 If you are doing research on how to support persons who need it for their mental condition, can you take such an everyday object as a smartphone, put on it a well-thought out app (ex- cuse the pun) and come up with a so- lution that helps such persons have a better quality of life? Maltese company AAT Research just did that with their Brain Music System App, and their efforts were rewarded by winning the Best App category at the eBusiness Awards 2013 organised by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA). The aim of the Awards is to promote innovation in the local technology industry and recognise the best efforts of the local talent. The Best App category recognises apps for mobile devices that have an impact on the market and/or the users. Though AAT Research were happy to receive such recognition they didn't really expect it in a category where tough competition was quite evident. "The whole team was taken aback when AAT Research's logo popped-up on the screen as the event's presenter announced the first place winner," admits Adrian Attard Trevisan, managing director at AAT Research. "Nonetheless we hold ourselves proud on the tireless amount of effort every single member on the team had put in to produce the app, and especially the software developers, who through inexhaustible determination succeeded into pushing the concept and already award winning therapy over the bounds and into new uncharted territory." Dr Attard Trevisan explains how the concept behind the then called Brain Music System App (now renamed 'Mente') was carefully constructed on the basis of rigorous research and a spark of genius flared up by AAT Research team's passion to help and facilitate everyday life for those who suffer from neurological disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Paired with the Mente headband, the app software, now available on three operating systems (Android, iOS and PC) helped to revolutionise therapy sessions as we know them and positively impact the life of the autistic users and their parents. The Mente headband analyses the components of an EEG (electrical activity) output from a user's brain and then converts these brain waves into music used for therapy, which can be enjoyed through the app. This can be used as a structured type of therapy that can be applied to a range of clinical conditions such as epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the locked-in syndrome, and to optimise performance in health subjects. The company insists that although there are many therapy sessions available to autistic patients, the Brain Music System/Mente is the only FDA approved therapy system for Autism Spectrum Disorder available on the market. This award-winning system is revolutionary and unique and the fact that the patients are free to attend therapy sessions away from the expensive clinical setup and in the comfort of their homes makes it unique. The Brain Music System App/ Mente is the culmination of years of dedicated research in Malta and abroad and although the AAT Research team didn't expect to win an MCA eBusiness Award, the ingredients for success were all there. "The passion, integrity and determination within a driven team does prove to be the recipe for success. This, paired with an encouraging environment to transit new ideas and concepts into award- winning innovations is paramount to the growth of any company, including AAT Research. I would like to show my appreciation towards the well- organised awards ceremony and for the overall continuous support MCA dedicates within the local business scene in Malta," concluded Attard Trevisan. The 2014 edition of the MCA eBusiness Awards has been announced, providing yet another opportunity for the local eBusiness industry to come forward with its best ideas, products and services. More information at www.mca.org. mt/ebiz-awards Best eBusiness Idea of the Year - Clever Accounting The winner of the Best eBusiness Idea of the Year at the 2013 Malta Communications Authority eBusi- ness Awards is an online accounting package which exploits the benefits of software accessible as a service in the cloud. Clever Accounting, by Clever Solutions Ltd, provides small business owners with more control over their company's finances. This is achieved as accounting data and functionality become more accessible, thus enabling the business owner to take decisions in line with actual business financial data. It is ideal for small business owners and accountants to record their accounts, bank reconciliation, invoicing, tax, and to generate accounting reports and financial statements. It is a fully- featured accounting system that is easy to use, secure, and affordable, according to its developers, Clever Solutions Ltd. "We were confident that we had done all that we could do to further our chances of doing well. The other nominees were much larger companies so winning was a nice surprise," admits Jeffrey Romano, marketing manager at Clever Solutions Ltd. "There aren't many Maltese companies that enter the global market with a software-as-a-service product. The fact that we put together an innovative product and introduced it locally and abroad helped us stand out. Showing significant growth in external markets provided further validation of the potential of Clever Accounting." The company explains that one of the innovative aspects behind Clever Accounting is that it brings together cloud technology and accounting software to produce an ideal local solution for small businesses. One of the advantages of being on the cloud is the possibility to carry out regular back ups for clients, something which traditionally gets out of the busy minds of small business owners. Clever Accounting removes that risk. Another advantage of running on the cloud is accessibility, and Clever Accounting can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. This access can be managed and different privileges can be set for different kinds of users. An important feature developed specifically for the Maltese market was the way VAT is automatically calculated and placed in different categories to match the VAT Tax Return, thus making it easy and efficient to report VAT transactions. This has also lowered the threshold in terms of knowledge and experience for those businessmen who want to fill in the VAT form themselves. Clever Accounting was developed with the non-technical user in mind, both in terms of the interface and the support provided, including online support. Clever Accounting was the winner of just one category, the Best eBusiness Idea of the Year, from several ones that together constitute the showcase that the MCA eBusiness Awards are. The authority has launched the 2014 edition and full details are available from its website www.mca.org.mt/ ebiz-awards Best App – AAT Research The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) eBusiness Awards are held annually to spur innovative initiatives in the domain of eBusiness and spread awareness about the potential of emerging technologies to drive economic growth and social development. Minister Zammit Lewis (left) awarding Jonathan Azzopardi and Adrian Attard Trevisan Carmelo Romano, managing director at Clever Solutions (centre) being awarded the Best eBusiness Idea of the Year 2013 Award