For contact details and further information, please visit the IP and Commercialisation webpage Case study: Capturing the brilliance of butterfly wings
The brilliance of butterfly wings has inspired a £3.2m, three-year research project that promises to deliver innovation in the fields of security, energy and the environment. The University of Exeter and international technology company QinetiQ have just signed a collaborative contract to develop new technologies based on groundbreaking physical sciences research via the Arkiris joint venture.
RKT was instrumental in negotiating the original bid with the EPSRC under their Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA) initiative (12 KTAs were awarded in the UK by EPSRC in 2009). Following approval of the funding, RKT successfully completed a complex collaboration agreement with QinetiQ and the arrangement under secondment of an entrepreneur for the project, as well as establishing a formal project delivery board - all before the project commencement date of 1st October 2009. Management of this project is handled through RKT by a formal project manager, working alongside the entrepreneur.
More information on our support for the butterfly wings collaboration
Syngenta Bioline
In September 2009, the University completed a 10 year exclusive licence deal with Syngenta Bioline Ltd in relation to a patent for an anti-fungal/anti-microbial agent for use in crop-protection (a massive global issue). In return, the University will receive a percentage revenue share of any global sales of product deriving from this Intellectual Property.
RKT successfully concluded negotiations on this deal in the summer of 2009, following a round of negotiations with potential licensees. Under this exclusive arrangement with Syngenta, RKT has arranged for the company to cover the ongoing patent fees during the exclusivity period although the patent remains under the ownership of the University at present.
Case study: Attomarker Aims High
The scientific challenges facing society today include the need for a greater understanding of complex systems such as the human body and in this case, the immune system. Attomarker Ltd is seeking to develop a low-cost, robust instrument for use in a GP’s surgery, that can measure up to 100 components of whole blood in 15 minutes.
RKT was responsible for the creation of Attomarker Ltd, a University spin-out as part of its unique life-sciences strategic partnership with Exomedica Ltd. RKT handling all of the legal and administration matters concerning the day-to-day running of the company in its embryonic stages, before passing-on this responsibility to Exomedica Management Services Ltd as shareholder in the Company. Furthermore, through the Head of IP & Commercialisation, in 2009, RKT successfully assisted the Company in bidding for £63k of grant funding from the SW RDA as part of a £103k R&D project to prove the concept of a chip-based biomarker system.
