Exploitation of FP7 Projects
a missed opportunity?
Michael Jackson
iXscient limited
Background to iXscient
n Established in 2003 by Nick Walker, Dave Wenn
& Mike Jackson
n Over 25 years of experience in performing and
commercialising R&D
n  Managed major R&D programmes and departments
n  Developed and licensed our own innovations
n  Participated in the development and licensing of outside
technology
n  Initiated start-ups
n  Major role in technology company flotation
What we do
n Source funding and write proposals
n Set up collaborative research projects
n Project Management of R&D programmes
n Other points to note:
n Based on the Brunel Campus Science Park
n Currently managing 8 large collaborative projects
n Total project value > €60M
To get out of the FP7 starting
blocks
n Problem to solve
n Means to solve it
n Key enabling
technologies
n Experience
n Key Skills
n Good mix of
participants
n Especially SME’s
Running the project race
n Team building
n Collaboration
n Compromise
n Competing
requirements
n Meeting deliverables
and objectives
Finishing the race
n All scientific and
technical objectives
met.
n Publications
n Dissemination
n New knowledge
n Excellent consortium
Great BUT!!!
Technology v’s Market
n Cost XXXX
n High complexity
n Reliability ?
n Regulation and
approvals
n Cost XXXX / Y
n Low complexity
n High reliability
n Ready for market
The funding cliff
MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
Funding Cliff Issue
n What do you do when the project finishes
n Exploitation partners are often SME’s
n SME’s don’t have access to investment for
the development
n Limited timely support from funder
n Loss of momentum in the consortium
partners drift away
CD-MEDICS
n All objectives met
n On time and budget
n Excellent technology
n Excellent consortium
n Strong desire to commercialise
n Further simplification required
n Instrument cost reduction
Conclusions
n A great opportunity is being missed
n A methodology needs to be found to enable
consortia to access development funds
n Some EU schemes but not easy
n Timing and funding rules compound
problem
n Perhaps a fund that consortia can apply to
before the end of the project
Thank you for your attention!
iXscient limited
Gardiner Building
Brunel Science Park
Kingston Lane
Uxbridge
UB8 3PQ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)7769976572
Email: mikej@ixscient.com
Web: www.ixscient.com