Newcastle Science City

What We DoScience Business Creation

How NSC can help

Newcastle Science Company Limited aims to support a portfolio of entrepreneurs and businesses that have the greatest potential to generate high-growth revenue and quality employment opportunities as a direct result of our intervention. All support provided by NSC is based on the methodology of the Newcastle Innovation Machine insight-led model, which is further explained below.

In order to establish this potential we take interested companies through our assessment criteria, and from this establish whether we are in a position to help.

To achieve this we first look for the business propositions fit with the three science themes; Ageing & Health, Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, Sustainability. or an innovative cross-cutting theme. Secondly we talk through with each company the thinking behind their business plan and look to firmly establish a quantifiable insight-led proposition. Once this is established we identify what value-added we can bring to the project by matching the entrepreneur or businesses need to NSC's in-house business development and support skills.

We are able through our work to support not only entrepreneurs and start-ups but also existing businesses that are looking to innovate and grow. Companies need to be based in North East England.

When a company is identified as matching the NSC criteria we work with them to establish how best our resources can benefit them. Support on offer includes: innovation expertise including business planning and finance;  access to market research, testing and prototyping support; marketing & sales support; PR support; web consultancy; IP & Patent mapping; legal advice; help establishing funding support i.e. venture capitalists, North East Business Funding etc; virtual office space at Science City offices.

In the event that we are not in a position to help, we always aim to help companies establish the best business support route on offer, by working closely with other business support providers across the region.

Next Steps
Newcastle Science City has a Business Development and Support Team, comprising five key members of the organisation: Dr Peter Arnold - CEO; Caroline Findlay, Business Development Programme Manager; Simon Green; Project Manager; Rachel Orange; Project Manager and Vivek Unnikrishnan, Business Support Manager. This team is further supported by other members of the NSC Team as well as a fully procured panel who are able to supply services such as business planning, financial, legal and marketing support.

Step 1: In the first instance interested companies are asked to contact Newcastle Science City direct at 0191 231 2200.

Step 2: Following your request a member of the Business Development & Support Team will organise an initial consultation which will take place either in person or via telephone. This discussion will evaluate whether the project can be supported in line with the assessment criteria, and if NSC is in a position to support, what type of support could potentially be provided.

Step 3: Dependent upon the outcome, successful consultations will be followed up by a meeting with further members of the Business Development & Support Team where a final decision to support, or alternatively refer to another business support provider, will be made.

Step 4: For those companies, who NSC is able to support, a dedicated Project Manager from within the Business Support & Development Team will be identified who will work closely with the appointed organisation to forecast an activity plan and set up the necessary confidentiality agreements.

If you think you have a project which NSC may be in a position to support you with, please contact us.

Newcastle Innovation Machine - Business Model

The Newcastle Innovation Machine is focussed around delivering products and services that people want from the technology and science that is already available. It starts with market need and then establishes whether this need could be met more effectively by identifying competitive advantage through technological, customer, supply, and business model insights, hence creating a compelling business proposition.

In doing this it fills a void, commonly seen, between research-led and insight–led innovation, by matching market need with technological advancements in areas such as energy supply and healthcare delivery.

All support provided by NSC is based on the methodology of the Newcastle Innovation Machine model. This way we ensure that through our help businesses are best placed to generate high-growth revenue and quality employment opportunities as a direct result of our assistance.

Business support case study - PitViper
The company: Pitviper Limited is developing a range of products and services designed to assist carers and supporters of people living with dementia. The products provide non-intrusive location monitoring and have the capability to provide sophisticated interpretation of lifestyle patterns.

The unmet need: Craig Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer, and Mark Bedworth, Chief Technology Officer of Pitviper had originally identified an unmet customer need through personal experience of caring for family members living with dementia. They wanted to have reassurance that their family members were coping between visits. 

The solution: Existing aids did not seem to provide a complete solution. Craig and Mark secured regional funding for Proof of Concept (POC) to develop their technology solution, to which they bring unique insight in terms of their skills and experience.

A market research study during POC gained customer insight from the care home market, and informed the development of the initial product and service offering. Patent searches and their patent application have protected their position for supply and distribution. Through this, NSC was able to bring further insight into the potential market and customer types from an analysis of the market opportunity with supported housing and domiciliary care providers.

The outcome: The support given by NSC has contributed and informed their business model for high growth, by providing a detailed picture of the size, segmentation and market opportunity available for their technology solution.

“Caroline and her team became fully engaged with our requirements and we feel they have become part of our team, complementing our skills and helping to drive our business forward.” said Craig.

Business support case study - Limbs Alive
The company: Limbs Alive provides effective and convenient video games-based therapy for children and adults who have lost upper limb function after a stroke or due to cerebral palsy – a condition called hemiplegia.

The unmet need: Prof Janet Eyre, Professor of Paediatric Neuroscience at Newcastle University, and her team identified a lack of cost-effective therapies, in spite of research which shows patients’ quality of life and employment opportunities are drastically reduced if they cannot perform activities requiring two hands. They knew that if they could develop an effective system that patients would want in their own home, without supervision from an occupational therapist, there would be a serious demand for the product – both from patients and from health authorities.

The solution: Research and initial trials carried out showed that repetitive goal-oriented treatment for 30 minutes each day has the potential to substantially improve upper limb performance.

To address this need the team developed a series of bespoke video games for use on PCs and the Nintendo Wii gaming system which patients can use at home. The system works by using highly motivating games to encourage patients to practice specific hand and arm movements. This strengthens the neural pathways which improve dexterity and co-ordination in everyday life.

The outcome: By developing the Limbs Alive business plan, NSC helped the team to secure £250,000 funding from the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) Fund (NHS North East Good Ideas Investment 2009/10) and also assisted with the selection of the video games developer for the project. The games are now being further developed with the support of this funding and will be rolled out later in the year.

Prof Janet Eyre said: “Business development is not our core expertise, so having Newcastle Science City on hand has helped us take the idea from an unmet need to a stage where it is very close to becoming a commercial reality. They helped us form a business around the product and gave specific assistance in producing a business plan and pursuing Strategic Health Authority funding.”

Business support case study - 2pure Products Limited
The company: 2pure, a regionally-based business founded by local entrepreneur Victoria Browning has unlocked the potential of new odour reduction science and is set to launch of range of revolutionary air purification products which destroy household odours and help neutralise killer bacteria such as MRSA.

The unmet need: Even in today’s competitive odour control market, household smells from things such as pets and cooking can be really difficult to eliminate and market research reports indicated that there was a growing demand for effective odour control products within both domestic and commercial establishments. Working closely with researchers at Northumbria University, Victoria used her background as an industrial odour specialist to identify those chemicals currently being used in an industrial setting that could be safely adapted for use in households.

The solution: Following the discovery of the 2pure product, Newcastle Science City supported the business to get it off the ground and into the market. Assistance included the establishment of a business model; support procuring the costly independent tests needed to assess the product’s effectiveness, and safety and guidance on finding the right market.

The outcome: 2pure became an incorporated business in April 2010.  Victoria said: ‘The market is very tightly regulated but with Newcastle Science City’s help we’ve passed all the required tests and we now have a proven odour control product that has seen off more established brands in terms of efficacy in independent tests.’ The first products will be aimed specifically at pet owners, with a wider range becoming available as the business grows.

Victoria said: “It’s an amazing feeling to have got 2pure off the ground as a business – and it really has only been possible with the assistance of Newcastle Science City, helping me negotiate the way through the stringent regulations and crowded air purification marketplace.”