Idea Book
15–30 ranked concepts with mechanism diagram, “why it might work,” precedent data, TRL estimate, IP map, and first-pass cost drivers.
Technology Ideation & Scouting
Fresh concepts for your toughest R&D problems—delivered in weeks, not months. We mine global literature, patents, start-ups and cross-industry analogues, ranking ideas by technical plausibility, IP freedom, and scale-up pathway.
Why clients use it
- • Bust innovation gridlock
- • Shrink time-to-prototype
- • Cut scouting cost
- • De-risk IP (FTO snapshot)
What we deliver
Evidence Dossier
Key papers, patents, theses, conference posters, and cross-industry analogues backing each concept.
Shortlist Workshop
2-hour live session with our PhDs to down-select 3–5 ideas for in-house or partner-lab testing.
Where it pays off — illustrative briefs
| Challenge theme | Example question we tackle |
|---|---|
| Low-carbon process heat | How could we reach 900 °C kiln temps via electrified plasmas or novel microwave susceptors? |
| Protein stabilisation | What excipient or micro-drying methods keep mRNA stable at 25 °C for 60 days? |
| PFAS-free surfactants | List bio-based amphiphiles with comparable CMC and wetting angles to 8:2 FTOH. |
| Hard-to-recycle composites | How can we delaminate glass-fibre PP panels without corrosive solvents? |
| Real-time pathogen sensing | Which paper-microfluidic or acoustic devices could detect Listeria in under 20 minutes? |
Mini case study — six-week sprint
- Client: Tier-1 automotive supplier
- Brief: Reduce cabin-air formaldehyde < 10 ppb with passive materials (no power)
- Workflow: Scan 180 leads → 12 screened concepts → 4 ranked ideas
- Outcome: Chose a MOF on recycled felt, filed a provisional patent, bench prototype in eight additional weeks.
Our 4-step process
- Problem framing — clarify KPIs, constraints, banned chemistries (1 week)
- Horizon scan — AI/NLP sweep of 50k+ documents across disciplines (2 weeks)
- Concept synthesis — cluster & score via feasibility matrix (2 weeks)
- Validation & workshop — SME sanity-check, FTO snapshot, prioritisation (1 week)
Engagement options
Flash Ideation
Turnaround: 2 weeks
Best for early brainstorms or grant applications.
Deliverables: 6–10 concise idea briefs.
Concept Sprint
Turnaround: 6 weeks (standard)
Best for concrete shortlists for lab trials.
Deliverables: 15–30 Idea Book • Evidence Dossier • Workshop.
Pipeline Builder
Turnaround: Quarterly
Best for ongoing funnels for corporate venturing.
Deliverables: Quarterly concept deck + analyst hotline.
FAQ
Where do the ideas come from?
AI text-mining of >200 databases plus SME creativity sessions; ~65% of ideas have < 5 prior patents.
Who owns the IP?
All concepts are exclusive to you; foreground IP is yours. NDA + GDPR workflows as standard.
Can you run wet-lab validation?
Yes—through partner labs or yours. We move from desk to bench in follow-on packages.