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

FENAC是NERC资助的一个设施，为纳米材料实验室表征提供支持，用于环境中纳米材料和纳米尺度过程的性质和影响的学术研究。我们在表征方面提供广泛的专业知识，并可使用尚未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，并在进行测量时提供培训和支持。我们还指导用户解释所获得的信息。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，学术界和工业界对纳米材料实验室表征和纳米级工艺评估有更广泛的需求，而FENAC的资金并没有涵盖这些需求。设施内有技能和设备，设备上有备用能力。利益相关者，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）都支持推出FENAC的商业翼。我们还得到了欧洲生物技术网络的支持。FENAC可以为生物科学、环境科学和地球科学领域的学者提供支持，也可以为英国工业的一些部门提供支持：纳米技术、环境部门、采矿、水/废水工业部门。这个开拓者项目将使FENAC团队能够充分探索该设施作为商业可持续业务单元的市场潜力。我们没有内部的专业知识来进行这样的工作，所以我们将任命一位专家顾问，他将为我们提供制定完整业务案例所需的信息。为确保我们是有关行业的“首选”供应商，并能应付用户的挑战，顾问公司会确定：─我们的市场是谁; ─该市场的价值; ─竞争所在; ─ FENAC应提供什么，价格如何。该顾问将提供可靠的收入/时间表，以使FENAC走上商业上可持续的基础。他们还将制定一项营销战略，一旦他们接受了这一领域的具体技能培训，该战略将由FENAC团队实施。通过提供包括纳米级表征和解决问题在内的服务，FENAC将成为向私营部门转移知识和技术能力的关键角色-支持大型和小型工业的研发，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，并展示研究理事会在这一领域投资的价值。在这个项目完成后，我们将对潜在市场，客户群以及与客户接触所需的营销有很好的了解。这将构成申请后续资金的背景，以支持业务在其发展的初始阶段。关键词：FENAC;环境;纳米材料;纳米颗粒;纳米毒性;实验室表征;解决问题;商业化;学术界;工业界。利益相关者：FENAC董事兼经理，FENAC指导委员会成员，NERC，伯明翰大学商业发展办公室和地理学院，地球和环境科学;工业界、学术界和环境部门的潜在客户，DEFRA，环境署，环境非政府组织。

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.