Knowledge Assets - UKI2S

Knowledge Assets

Intellectual property, innovation, data, know-how and business processes…

We have over £100 billion in high level knowledge assets in the public sector ripe for use in a diverse range of applications.

Alongside the Government Office for Technology Transfer, we nurture and invest in assets via spin-out companies which can boost public sector productivity, deliver economic gains and improve quality of life in the UK.

Why are investors excited about Knowledge Assets?

Enhanced quality of life

We back ideas which have the potential to enhance quality of life across the nation, and beyond.

Multi-market applicabilty

We support the commercialisation of knowledge assets which can be used in a diverse range of applications.

Huge economic potential

The UK has over £100 billion in high level knowledge assets, which we must exploit to drive economic growth.

Cobalt

Across Europe and Asia’s busiest and most prestigious airports, Cobalt Light Systems’ technology is installed into security checkpoint operations to rapidly screen liquids for explosives and other potential threat materials.

Alongside airport security applications, Cobalt’s technology is used to analyse pharmaceutical materials including capsules, tablets, gel and solutions. Founded in 2008, Cobalt was acquired in 2017 – just ten years later – for £40 million by Agilent. At the time, Cobalt was engaged with more than 20 of the 25 largest global pharma companies as well as more than 75 airports across the EU and Asia-Pacific regions.

Related case studies

Spinning out to success. Read on to find out who we’ve helped spin-out from an original idea to commercial success.

Presymptom Health

As the UK healthcare system struggles to keep pace with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis (identified by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 10 global public health threats), Presymptom Health’s AI-driven AMR tests could revolutionise its detection, diagnosis and treatment, saving countless lives.

Dr Iain Miller, CEO of Presymptom Health, said:

"We’re confident that our first product can play a big part in tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). By understanding the presence, or absence, of infection as early as possible, doctors can be more confident in their diagnosis and avoid unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics — something that is a growing concern in the NHS and globally. This funding will help us enter the market by 2025 and, ultimately, save lives sooner. We will initially roll-out in the UK, but have plans for the US and beyond in the following years."

Related news articles

What is a knowledge asset? And how do you know if it’s suitable for commercialisation?

Read on for the latest news, advice, opinions and tech emerging from the UK’s public sector.

External read: HIDRA project

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