We’re all aware that an idea in isolation is nothing more than simply an idea — it’s effort and action that transform it into reality. Knowing how to do the right thing at right time can be daunting for those who haven’t needed to do it before. Inevitably, Universities and Spin-outs are all faced with a myriad of questions they don’t know where to turn to answer. We can help.

For tech transfer units, speed is of the essence to capitalise on market opportunities and stay ahead of the competition. Any delay in the development-to-launch process could result in missing critical market windows. As Steve Jobs famously said, “To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. Execution is worth millions.”

Successfully transforming a validated research idea (TRL4) to commercial success marks a significant milestone, but it’s also a considerable challenge. Often referred to as the ‘valley of death’ or ‘chasm of commercialisation’, this is where many research-originated innovations falter.

Effective entrepreneurship in this space involves managing the uncertainties of innovation, including technical, regulatory, and business risks. Coordinating and sharing resources effectively can be a challenge, and this can directly impact the success of the transformation process. This is where Smallfry comes in.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Smallfry boasts an impressive track record. We’ve honed a robust and reliable design development process over several decades, consistently delivering substantial results.

We’re here to help you plan the key milestones of your commercial and business development, offering support with intellectual property protection, customer readiness, and funding or investment readiness. Together, we’ll evolve a strategic plan to acquire the necessary resources to move forward.

Currently, Smallfry is assisting premier university tech-transfer and IP departments, supporting their spin-outs, and exploiting emerging technologies to create innovative new products.

We’ve developed a reputation for understanding how to bridge the ‘chasm of commercialisation’, working with prestigious universities such as Oxford, Nottingham, and Imperial College London.

At the Hamlyn Centre for Robotics, we’ve been developing designs and visual materials to communicate their business case, attracting and securing substantial funding for pioneering remote, automated, and robotic surgical devices. We’re proud of our work to establish a frugal innovation studio focussed on designing micro-endoscopy devices to provide healthcare in the developing world.

A recent project for Imperial College resulted in their first fully CE marked commercial product, a development set to revolutionise microsurgery.

“Smallfry’s ability to translate product requirements into fully-functioning prototypes and creative designs has enabled us to commercialise some of the world’s most advanced medical robots.”

Professor Guang-Zhong Yang
Director, Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery