Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/1385717
COMMERCIALISATION 72 LEAD RESEARCHER: MATTHEW NANCEKIEVILL I've worked as a researcher within the robotics group at The University of Manchester for the past 7 and a half years, working on projects ranging from radiation tolerance of electronic components, to submersible ROVs. Recently, I have founded a spin-out company, Ice Nine Ltd, that aims to commercialise some of the robotic platforms developed at Manchester. It aims to ccommercialise some of the robotic platforms developed as part of the The University of Manchester's innovative research. Ice Nine is currently seeking initial contracts, private investors and grants to further grow its offering, taking University robotic platforms at a TRL 4/5 all the way to TRL 9. SPIN-OUT: ICE NINE LTD. SUMMARY // The nuclear decommissioning sector needs robotic solutions to remove humans from harm and increase efficiency of decommissioning. A key part of RAIN's ethos is to translate technology from university labs into industrial zones. This is necessary because It is common for University research to work well in practice, achieve impressive demonstrations and then lose momentum, resulting in work that is "left- on-the-shelf" at the end of a grant or research term. This void between completion of research and adoption by industry counteracts the main long- term goal of research which is to have a long-lasting impact on the economy, industry, and society. Developing a commercial entity, capable of sustaining its own ambitions but closely linked with a university, means that this long-lasting impact is feasible. Researchers are supported to develop new and novel techniques, whilst a company can commercialise previous research into the industrial world on a consistent basis. Currently, it is difficult to remain commercially viable within the nuclear decommissioning sector in the short-term, due to regulatory challenges with new and novel techniques. Therefore, cross- industrial applications must be found for our robotic platforms and facilitated by a company such as Ice Nine, so it can fulfil the needs of nuclear decommissioning.