Overcoming Barriers to
Commercialisation of Nanotechnology
Research
.
Policy Advice Framework at EC, National
and Regional levels
Professor Svetan Ratchev
NanoCom Project Coordinator
University of Nottingham
Industrial Technologies Conference 2012
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NanoCom - Motivation
Investment in Nanotechnology related research by EU
Framework programmes in excess of €2Billion
Studies show critical gaps in commercialising results*:
– A very low proportion (only 3,5%)
of global nanotechnology venture
capital is invested in Europe.
– Despite public funding which is on
a par with the US, Europe is
lagging behind in the number of
nanotechnology patents granted.
– Industrial investment in
nanotechnology is also only half
that of the US and Japan.
* Commercialisation of Nanotechnology – Key Challenges, Tom Crawley, Spinverse,
http://www.spinverse.com/documents/NanotechCommercialisation_Helsinki_March07.pdf
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NanoCom Vision
....contribute to bridging the gap between lab
based and industrial applications in
nanotechnology by creating a European
wide approach and mechanisms for
Theme: NMP2009-1.2-5
Grant
Agreement:
247967
lowering the barriers and spreading best
Start Date:
01 Dec 2009
open innovation practices for rapid
Duration:
36 months
commercialisation and investment in
innovative nanotechnology driven products…
Project
Co-ordinator:
University of
Nottingham, UK
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NanoCom Partners
University of Nottingham
(Project Coordinator)
Veneto Nanotech S.C.p.A
CEA LITEN
Bayer Technology Services
GmbH
IPA, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
Nanotrade
Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology
Centre for Process
Innovation
Centro Ricerche Fiat
Acciona Infraestructuras S.A.
PLASTIPOLIS
LUX EMEA Inc.
RWTH Aachen University
NineSigma Europe BVBA
Innobridge
Culminatum Innovation Oy Ltd
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Support for NANOfutures
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NanoCom Approach – Final Output
⑤ Publication of a Strategic Roadmap, Policy Guidelines and
Commercialisation Strategy to support the EU and national
governments in increasing successful commercialisation of
nanotechnology research.
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Commercialisation readiness assessment
Scale based on 4 components
TRL
TRL
9
9
8
8
5
5
7
7
4
4
6
6
5
5
3
3
4
4
2
2
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
Technology Readiness
Level (TRL)
Manufacturing Capability
Readiness Level (MCRL)
Organisational Capability
Maturity Level (CML)
Investment Readiness
Level (IRL)
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Open Innovation: The NanoCom approach
… customisable and adaptable Open Innovation
Model and Methodology…
source: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
source: RWTH
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Policy Advice - Purpose
Draw upon analysis of:
– barriers to and
– best practices for commercialisation of nanotechnology.
Develop set of policy planning materials with specific advice
covering:
– future investment strategies,
– mechanisms for engagement with key industrial sectors,
– new measures for efficient technology and knowledge transfer in to
commercially successful applications.
Go beyond state-of-the-art and current opinions.
Provide both insightful and leading recommendations at EC,
member states and regional levels.
Embedded involvement of key stakeholders to ensure validity.
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Policy Scope
Development of recommendations based on identified policy
areas.
Spheres of influence:
– Europe
• EU funded - invested in results
• Actions as a result of recommendations
• ‘Top down’ policy
– National
• Relevance of specific recommendations
• ‘Top down’ and ‘bottom up’ policies
– Regional
• Where nanotechnology is a priority
• Recognition of support from clusters
• ‘Local level’ policy
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Policy Framework
Challenge led agenda focussed on the analysis of barriers
and best practices.
Three phased iterative process:
1) Policy Evidence
Gathering
3) Output
Measurement &
Review
2) Formulation,
Agreement &
Implementation
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Policy Inputs
Identified barriers & best practices
Cultural background
Statistical analysis
Economic priorities
Stakeholder interviews
Constructive
Creative thinking
Current legislation/regulation
Natural resources
and skills base
On-line Surveys
Policy maker Interviews
Open forum discussions
Societal & Environmental needs
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Identified Policy Areas by Domain
• Efficiency
• Cost
2 policy topics
• Reproducibility
• Reliability & Durability
3 policy topics
Marketing &
Strategy
• Regulations & Standards
• Market Opportunities
5 policy topics
Investment &
Organisational
• Return on Investment
• Innovation Infrastructure
6 policy topics
Manufacturing
Technological
• 16 key barriers identified across the four domains.
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Policy Topics
Manufacturing Domain
Manufacturing
• Efficiency
• Cost
Manufacturing
1. Lack of available access to adapted equipment necessary for preproduction development
2. Lack of investment in full production capability (€1-5M)
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Policy Topic
Manufacturing Example
Manufacturing
• Efficiency
• Cost
Lack of available access to adapted equipment necessary
for pre-production development
Commercialisation Barriers
– New business applications of MNT can require specialised or enhanced
equipment for production that is either immature or need to be adapted.
– MNT are Key enabling technologies and are often required at an early stage
in the product development chain.
– Capital equipment for manufacturing products is expensive, and time
consuming to establish, and often requires highly specialised personnel.
– SME's have difficulty in raising the money or want to start production
quickly.
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Policy Topic
Manufacturing Example
Manufacturing
• Efficiency
• Cost
Lack of available access to adapted equipment necessary
for pre-production development
Key Recommendations
– Promote exploitation of suitable existing open access or commercially
available pilot plant facilities through the creation of an ‘European
Directory’ of such capabilities.
– Identify and fill gaps in the above provision by promoting strategic publically
funded open access facilities delivering key enabling pilot plant capabilities
e.g. nanomaterials & dispersions, MEMS, Thin Films.
– Propose amendments to existing funding mechanisms:
• Increase flexibility for SME’s to further participation e.g. FP Capacities
programme or ERDF.
• Target and support the development of manufacturing infrastructures suitable
for full scale production of proven nanomaterials or nano-enabled products.
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Policy Topics
Technological Domain
Technological
• Reproducibility
• Reliability & Durability
Technological
1. Lack of investment in technical process control and development
2. Lack of resources for, and awareness of, up-scaling technologies
3. High cost of testing of new nano-enabled products for the market
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Policy Topic
Technological Example
Technological
• Reproducibility
• Reliability & Durability
Lack of investment in technical process control and
development
Commercialisation Barriers
– Fundamental physical production processes are not well characterised and
understood, especially at the nanoscale.
– (Offline-metrology) Measurement and characterisation equipment and
testing facilities are expensive to buy and to use for SMEs. A wide array of
techniques are needed to best develop and define new products.
– Complexity of measurement issues precludes easy translation into on-line
measurement. Integrated process control parameters cannot be easily
employed so lengthening development cycles.
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Policy Topic
Technological Example
Technological
• Reproducibility
• Reliability & Durability
Lack of investment in technical process control and
development
Key Recommendations
– Integrate thought leadership from European participation in enabling nano
standards development into process/production metrology
development.
– Ensure development of metrology, standards, modelling tools and the
coordination of existing innovators are supported and driven by
application need, not just high-end instrument development.
– Promote the development of skilled technician workforce capable of
using sophisticated metrology and implementing advanced manufacturing
techniques.
– Disseminate developments widely via training programmes, trade
associations, ETPs, ...
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Policy Topics
Marketing & Strategy Domain
Marketing &
Strategy
• Regulations & Standards
• Market Opportunities
Marketing & Strategy
1. Lack of agreement between regulatory environment, consumer
organisations and technical community
2. Lack of standard definitions, test methods and guidance
documents for industry
3. Lack of specific applications and new markets for nanotechnologies
4. Cautious public attitudes and perceptions for nano-enabled
products
5. Lack of commercialisation expertise with nano community
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Policy Topic
Marketing & Strategy Example
Marketing &
Strategy
• Regulations & Standards
• Market Opportunities
Lack of commercialisation expertise within the nano
community
Commercialisation Barriers
–
A general lack of entrepreneurial awareness in the EU.
–
Technologists with the best know-how and access to new technologies lack
sufficient business skills to successfully commercialise.
–
SME's have enabling technologies with a lot of different applications and
markets, but lack business focus.
–
Technologies presented by academics or SME's are unproven or too risky to
adopt or invest in (lack of understanding of customer needs)
–
Customers usually interested in performance gains as opposed to completely
new innovation (incremental innovation vs radical).
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Policy Topic
Marketing & Strategy Example
Marketing &
Strategy
• Regulations & Standards
• Market Opportunities
Lack of commercialisation expertise within the nano
community
Key Recommendations
–
Assistance in the training of entrepreneurs to effectively develop business models and
pitch to investors and potential customers.
–
Assistance in identification and utilisation of potential public piloting environments
to fund proof of concept work and show rooms (e.g. nano room in a hospital).
–
Support for improving business skills:
• Basic innovation related know-how for graduating academics; new European
academic civilization
• Continuous flow of business skills courses
–
Support for mentoring programs:
• Serial entrepreneurs and starting entrepreneurs
• Corporate directors and/or SMEs
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Policy Topics
Investment & Organisational Domain
Investment &
Organisational
• Return on Investment
• Innovation Infrastructure
Investment & Organisational
1. Lack of coverage, readiness level continuity and timeliness of
funding schemes
2. Lack of suitable protection and exploitation of intellectual property
3. Difficulty in attracting enough private investment funding for
nanotechnologies
4. Lack of high quality collaborations by SMEs
5. Lack of good technology transfer mechanisms and incentives
6. Lack of workforce training and readiness
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Policy Topic
Investment & Organisational Example
Investment &
Organisational
• Return on Investment
• Innovation Infrastructure
Lack of coverage, readiness level continuity and
timeliness of funding schemes
Commercialisation Barriers
– Funding schemes do not cover complete commercialisation readiness scale.
– Geographical discrepancy, diversity and complexity of public support
measures decrease their efficiency at EU level
– Exploitation of research has limited time slot for SME’s, funding calls
deemed to be lacking and perception of public support as complicated by
SMEs.
– Individual organisations satisfied with relatively small amounts of finance
(<€50,000) to cover market feasibility studies/proof of concept - these
funds cannot be raised easily.
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Policy Topic
Investment & Organisational Example
Investment &
Organisational
• Return on Investment
• Innovation Infrastructure
Lack of coverage, readiness level continuity and timeliness of
funding schemes
Key Recommendations
– Promotion and increase in adaptive and flexible funding mechanisms,
based on a continuous open mode, for the specific commercialisation of
nanotechnologies (provision of schemes which are attractive for SMEs).
– Review sources of funding for TRL 6+ during the Horizon 2020
formulation. Development of new strategies and funding models to
overcome significant barriers (e.g. tax breaks and incentives, regional funds
(ERDF), private investment funds).
– Prepare for the introduction of new funding mechanisms with smaller
budgets (<€200k) shorter delivery times (<9 Months) and smaller
consortia (<3 partners) to support commercialisation of nanotechnologies,
especially for SMEs.
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Timeline
June 2012
Draft policy advice recommendations to be sent for review
August 2012
Policy advice revision following review cycle
September 2012
Presentation at EC Workshop Implementing Innovation
November 2012
1) Briefing Note
2) Complete Policy Card Pack
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THANKYOU for
www.nanocom-eu.org