Market assessment for commercial deployment of FENAC for the benefit of UK industries

FENAC是nerc资助的一个机构，为纳米材料的性质和影响以及环境中纳米尺度过程的学术研究提供纳米材料实验室表征方面的支持。我们提供广泛的表征专业知识，并获得不广泛使用的表征设备，为用户的材料确定最合适的表征技术，并在测量过程中提供培训和支持。我们还指导用户对所获得的信息进行解释。FENAC的指导委员会最近审查了该设施的范围和未来的方向，并得出结论，在学术界和工业界都有对纳米材料实验室表征和纳米尺度工艺评估的更广泛的需求，这不在FENAC的资助范围内。技术和设备在工厂内可用，并且设备上有备用容量。包括FENAC董事和经理、FENAC指导委员会成员、NERC和伯明翰大学（地理、地球和环境科学学院）在内的利益相关者都支持FENAC商业翼的推出。我们还得到了欧洲生物技术网络的支持。FENAC可以为从事生物科学、环境科学和地球科学工作的学者以及英国工业的许多部门提供支持：纳米技术；环保部门；采矿;水/废水处理行业。这个探路者项目将允许FENAC团队充分探索该设施作为商业可持续业务单元的市场潜力。我们公司内部没有专业知识来进行这样的工作，因此我们将任命一位专家顾问，他将为我们提供开发完整商业案例所需的信息。为了确保我们是相关行业的“首选”供应商，并能够满足我们用户的挑战，顾问将确定：-我们的市场是谁；这个市场值多少钱？-竞争所在；- FENAC的报价应该是多少，价格是多少？顾问将提供可靠的收入/时间表，以使FENAC达到商业可持续发展的基础。一旦他们接受了该领域的具体技能培训，他们还将制定一项由FENAC团队交付的营销策略。通过提供包含纳米级表征和解决问题的服务，FENAC将成为将知识和技术能力转移到私营部门的关键参与者——支持大大小小的工业研发，并将该设施定位为“卓越中心”。我们期望在适当的时候从私人和学术部门获得收入，并为英国的工业和环境带来好处，超过最初的NERC资金，并展示研究委员会在该领域投资的价值。在这个项目完成后，我们将对潜在市场、客户群和与客户接触所需的营销有一个很好的了解。这将构成申请后续资金的背景，以支持业务发展的初始阶段。关键词:伐草克;环境;纳米材料;纳米颗粒;nanotoxicity;实验室描述;解决问题;商业化;学术界;行业。利益相关者：FENAC董事兼经理、FENAC指导委员会成员、NERC、伯明翰大学业务发展办公室和地理、地球与环境科学学院；潜在客户包括工业界，学术界和环境部门，DEFRA，环境署，环保非政府组织。

FENAC, a NERC-funded facility, provides support in nanomaterial laboratory characterisation for academic research into the nature and effects of nanomaterials and nanoscale processes in the environment. We offer extensive expertise in characterisation, and access to characterisation equipment which is not widely available, identifying the most suitable characterisation techniques for the user's materials, and giving training and support in taking the measurements. We also guide users in the interpretation of the information obtained. FENAC's Steering Committee recently reviewed the facility's scope and future direction, and concluded that there is a wider need for nanomaterial laboratory characterisation and nanoscale process assessment, both in academia and industry, which is not covered by FENAC funding. The skills and equipment are available within the facility and there is spare capacity on the equipment. Stakeholders, including the FENAC Director and Manager, FENAC Steering Committee members, NERC, and University of Birmingham (School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science) are all in support of rolling out a commercial wing of FENAC. We also have the support of the European Biotechnology Network. FENAC could provide support to academics working in biosciences, environmental science and earth science, as well as a number of sectors of UK industry: nanotechnology; the environmental sector; mining; the water/wastewater industry sector.This Pathfinder project will allow the FENAC team to fully explore the market potential of the facility as a commercially sustainable business unit. We do not have the expertise in house to undertake such an exercise so we will be appointing a specialist consultant who will provide us with the information needed to develop a full Business Case. To ensure we are the 'first choice' provider for the relevant sector and can meet the challenges of our users, the consultant will identify:-Who our market is; -What that market could be worth; -Where competition lies;-What the FENAC offer should be, at what price. The consultant will provide reliable indication of the revenue / timescales needed to move FENAC onto a commercially sustainable footing. They will also develop a marketing strategy to be delivered by the FENAC team once they have undertaken specific skills training in this area.Through the provision of a service encompassing nanoscale characterisation and problem-solving, FENAC will be a key player in the transfer of both knowledge and technical capability into the private sector - supporting R&D for industry both large and small, and positioning the facility as a 'centre of excellence'. We would expect in due course to generate both income from the private and academic sectors, and benefits for industry and the environment in the UK, exceeding the initial NERC funding, and demonstrating the value of Research Council investment in this area.At the completion of this project we will have developed a good understanding of the potential market, the customer base, and the marketing required to engage with clients. This will form the background to an application for Follow-on funding in support of the business in the initial stages of its development.Keywords: FENAC; environmental; nanomaterial; nanoparticle; nanotoxicity; laboratory characterisation; problem-solving; commercialisation; academia; industry.Stakeholders: FENAC Director and Manager, FENAC Steering Committee members, NERC, University of Birmingham business development offices and the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science; potential clients within industry, academia and environmental sectors, DEFRA, Environment Agency, environmental NGOs.