The Grants and Innovation Office (FIK) at the University of Gothenburg is an organisation created to increase the practical application of the research conducted there.
A researcher at the University of Gothenburg, whose work involved cultivating cells, had identified an opportunity to automate part of the cell culture process.
Cultivating cells and preparing them for experiments takes a lot of time and steals resources from the actual experiments and analysis. The researcher had been given a grant from FIK to run the project and develop the idea, and was now ready to implement the machine. FIK needed support for the project and approached Avalon for help in managing the innovation process.
Proof of Concept
It became clear at an early stage that the researcher had been given a very limited budget that was based on the grant. The main question from the client was: “What’s the next step, and how do we take the project to the next step? It was decided that the work should be divided into work packages and run in accordance with our Avalon Innovation Model ™.
Work Package 1 consisted of analysing the current situation and the work that had been carried out, as well as analysing what was needed to take the project to the next level. The result of the analysis showed that the machine that had been suggested did not offer anything unique. It was instead the interface between the machine and the cultivated cells that was unique. There were also some decisive insights. So the project needed to be taken back to the ideation phase. It was also confirmed that a Proof of Concept would take the project to the next level. A report of the insights was presented together with a plan to achieve the goal, after which Work Package 2 was initiated. During the ideation phase, a number of valuable ideas emerged and were compiled into concepts. With prototypes of the concepts and the creation of a simple test rig, the concepts could be tested and compared with each other. The winning concept exceeded expectations compared with the defined criteria. We then helped the researcher with the task of specifying the patent requirements for the patent application. In connection with final delivery, recommendations based on innovation management were also passed on, suggesting how the researcher should proceed.
Using the Avalon Innovation Model ™ enabled us to get the project on the right track with a very tight budget. With a successful Proof of Concept, we enabled the researcher to submit a patent application. This in turn enabled the researcher not only to present the idea, but also to prove that it works to potential collaborative partners and investors. We successfully moved the innovation on to the next stage in the innovation process.
“Avalon’s consultants did a very good, thorough job and approached the tasks with tremendous energy, curiosity and willingness to discuss. Their delivery performance was spot on and I’m absolutely delighted with our collaboration.”
Camilla Pettersson, Innovation Advisor
University of Gothenburg
For more information, please contact:
Gustav Prejer
+46 70 – 454 37 02
Competences
Curious about how we work with the services and competences that were involved in the project? Feel free to find out more!
– Product & system development
– Avalon Innovation Model™
– Innovation management
– Project management
– Mechnical engineering