Services Provided
We collaborate to innovate. Our business model is simple: we collaborate directly with research groups in industry and universities to help turn ideas into reality. Our services are embedded within longer term collaboration agreements. Indeed, experience has shown that longer-term collaborations are far superior, mainly because some of the more innovative and value-adding ideas for the application and commercialisation of industry and university-based research have longer incubation times.
Ongoing and New Collaborations
- Extensive work in the area of computational law and 'computable contracts'. Together with the Computer Science Department at UCL, John has undertaken pioneering work in computable contracting. He has worked in collaboration with Oasis LMF and the Lighthill Risk Network and is the co-founder of Axiome Partners, a new digital insurance technology start-up. This exciting new start-up is extending the innovation envelope in the insurance space by establishing a range of proof-of-concept projects by digitally reengineering insurance contracts to render them computable. Click here for the Axiome Partners Website.
- Ongoing collaboration with the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) and a number of other mainly US-based research institutions. This global collaboration has focussed on the creation of 'The Legal Technology Laboratory', an initiative that has created a unique portfolio of projects at the intersection of law, computer science and public policy, and for which John has been the Programme Director. With funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foudation in the US, the LTL has been pivotal in advancing several areas of legal technology as well as having a profound impact on educational programmes and student engagement. The LTL has built a community of over 100 people and organisations from both public and private spheres in the US and in Europe. Click here for the LTL Website.
- Ongoing collaboration with the University of Greenwich. More recently, this long-standing collaboration has focussed on building a new practice in computational engineering for powder management in additive manufacturing together with the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology. The growth of additive manufacturing means that a thorough knowledge of the science of powders is critical for manufacturing excellence. And, as a 'fourth state of matter', with its own set of behavioural properties, particulates science is proving to be absolutely critical in deploying powder-based manufacturing systems. Click here for the website of the Wolfson Centre.
- Ongoing collaboration with University College London (UCL) and the Innovation and Enterprise Team to support the development of industry-based innovation networks ('industry clubs'). More recently, this initiative has been focussing on the mapping of currently-operating industry clubs or networks (both external to and within UCL), and the development of an industry club evaluation framework and development process.
Previous Collaborations and Selected Completed Projects
- Previous collaboration with the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), Queen Mary University of London. CCLS is a world-leading university-based centre for commercial law with over 600 postgraduate law students and a strong research base. John was the manager of iLINC, an EU-funded project to build a European Network of 'law incubators', university-based entities that facilitate the provision of legal support to ICT start-ups and entrepreneurs, delivered by postgraduate students in partnership with professional law firms. The iLINC Network has brought together over 20 of Europe's premier law institutions and has also established a strong link with law institutions in the US. Click here for iLINC Portal.
- Previous collaboration with the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics (CEM) at the University of Brighton. In order to enhance CEM's portfolio of research activities and to increase the impact of their research, this collaboration focussed on developing a new strategy for the areas of computing and mathematics. One of Brighton's main research areas for computing is ontology engineering, and John has been working with the Ontology Engineering Group to establish relevant and appropriate industry-based applications that exploit the full potential of their methodological approaches. As a member of the Industry Advisory Board for Computing and Mathematics (ongoing), John is able to provide further strategic guidance. John was also the originator and sponsor of the University's Applied Mathematics Prize: 'Making Maths Work'.
- Previous collaboration with the University of Greenwich. This initiative focussed on establishing cross-faculty Centres, and in particular in the area of high-value manufacturing. With a strong background in manufacturing and engineering, John helped the university to take greater advantage of its strong manufacturing capabilities by building the Greenwich Manufacturing Group (GMG). John also worked very closely with the internationally-renowned Computational Mechanics and Reliability Group (CMRG). CMRG focuses on developing multiphysics and multiscale computational models of complex engineering components and systems in order to better understand through-life performance and reliability.
- Previous collaboration with the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) at Cambridge University. The IfM undertakes a wide range of manufacturing research that covers many important elements of the industry value chain. Our collaboration focussed on developing an understanding of the nature and operation of manufacturing research centres in Germany, and more specifically, an analysis of the people dynamics at manufacturing-oriented Fraunhofer Institutes.
- Previous collaboration with the Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma (CNT) at the Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. CNT has a broad range of basic and translational research projects. One of their key therapeutic areas is the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The focus for this collaboration was on the setting up a new service-based, spin-off entity to provide an innovative reporting system for neutralising antibodies (NAbs) for patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Previous collaboration with the Faculty of Science and Engineering (S&E), Queen Mary University of London. S&E was looking to grow its consultancy activities and the overall level of direct industry engagement. The focus of the collaboration was to identify and develop new opportunities for industry engagement within the School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) and the School for Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). This collaboration also extended to the Mile End Group (MEG) in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. MEG provides a series of high-profile events involving key decision makers from both government and industry within the context of political history. The focus here was on exploring how MEG could be grown through increasing corporate sponsorship and consultancy/professional services.
- Previous collaboration with KIMBcn (Knowledge Innovation Market Barcelona), an entity based in Catalonia that focuses on technology and knowledge transfer. KIMBcn supports the commercialisation of research from Catalan universities and research institutes. Our collaboration sought to draw upon international best practices and key contacts to enhance the overall KIMBcn offering.
- Previous collaboration with Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) in the UK to articulate and improve their impact.
- Other previous collaborations with a number of mainly London-based research institutes and universities with whom the main focus was to create strategies and supporting mechanisms to support the commercialisation of research. This included spin-out creation, collaborative and contract research and development, academic consultancy to industry, bespoke professional training and the exploitation of equipment-based assets.
- Projects to set up and support early-stage, proof-of-concept funds for eight London-based universities and for the Catalan Government.
- Project with the Technology Strategy Board to improve the way in which universities engage in collaborative research and development projects.
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