Frontier IP seeks to create high-value businesses from intellectual property developed by universities, academics, scientists and engineers. Given the importance of science and technology in tackling some of the pressing problems we face today and the opportunities that arise as a result, it follows that sustainability is a natural consequence of what we do.
We currently focus on four clusters: artificial intelligence and robotics; food and agritech; engineered particles and materials; and pathogens and cell imaging. They are intrinsically linked to better social and environmental outcomes. And our approach is also reinforced through collaboration with industry partners, who see sustainability as central to meeting future customer needs and demands.
Between them, our portfolio companies are developing technologies designed to provide better healthcare, more sustainable materials, agriculture, food and industrial infrastructure, and reduce CO2 emissions — among others. We are aligning the Group and our portfolio to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The 17 UN SDGs were adopted by all UN members in 2015. They set a series of ambitious targets to be met by 2030. As well as governments, many of our industrial collaborators are also aligned. The SDGs are forward-looking and provide a widely-used framework for countries, industries and companies to show how they can make a positive impact.
Several of our companies are at an early stage of developing their technology. The potential is promising, but success is not guaranteed. Frontier IP is itself a small company employing 16 people. This means our approach to the UN SDGs and how we align to them and measure our performance are expected to evolve over time. The Group aligns to six Goals, and our portfolio companies to a total of 11.
The United Nation’s Sustainability Goals:
how Frontier IP Group aligns
Five companies in our portfolio are developing technologies directly designed to prevent or treat diseases. Most obviously are those in our pathogens and cell imaging, and robotics and AI clusters. Others have indirect impacts.
We continue to be committed to equal opportunities when it comes to recruitment, appointing and development. At the yearend, 50 per cent of our team were women and women were represented at all levels within the Group.
Our business model is expressly designed to support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. We are developing and growing early-stage businesses with the potential to be much more across all clusters.
At the heart of our business model is promoting innovation — identifying science and technology with the potential for positive commercial, societal and environmental impacts. We are currently working
with 17 portfolio companies and across two projects to fulfill these ends.
Seven of our portfolio companies are developing technologies directly involved in this Goal. It maps to our engineered particles and materials, food and agritech, and robotics and AI clusters. Others contribute to the goal indirectly.
We believe technologies being developed by our portfolio companies could have significant impact on efforts to tackle climate change. They include Pulsiv’s power conversion technology, Camgraphic, and Nandi Proteins.
Our portfolio and the UN SDGs:
how companies align
Alusid
Alusid creates beautiful, premium-quality tiles and architectural surfaces from recycled industrial waste ceramics, glass and other materials. Most of these materials would otherwise end in landfill. Its processes also use up to 29 per cent less CO2 than other processes.
The company aligns to SDG 9 and SDG 12 because its processes emit less CO2 than conventional tile making and recycled materials — and the products themselves can also be recycled, supporting the circular economy
Amprologix
Amprologix’s new families of antibiotics are aimed at tackling antimicrobial resistant MRSA and other superbugs. Initial focus is on Epidermicin N01, which is derived from bacteria found on human skin, and the company is working with industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology firm Ingenza on development.
The World Health Organisation has said antimicrobial resistance is one of the top 10 threats to human health globally. Amprologix maps to SDG 3, good health and well being.
Aquainsilico
AquaInSilico is developing software tools able to optimise waste water treatment. This includes improved recycling of substances such as phosphorus and nutrients across a very wide range of industries. The company is an United Nations Develop Programme Ocean Innovator and is involved in a project to help conserve one of the world’s most diverse marine environments around Cape Verde and improve water quality to the inhabitants.
Cambridge Raman Imaging
Cambridge Raman Imaging (CRI)’s novel medical imaging technology is based on graphenebased ultra-fast lasers. It aims to detect and monitor tumours more rapidly and accurately, also employing artificial intelligence to distinguish diseased and healthy tissue. CRI is part of pan-European project to develop new technologies to allow researchers to see diseases unfolding in near real time, opening the way for new treatments. CRI aligns to SDG 3.
CamGraphIC
Camgraphic is focused on graphene-based photonics for high-speed communications and other applications. Initial work is focused on optical transceivers for data and telecommunications: tests indicate they can achieve speeds of 100Gbps, around twice that of equivalent technologies in laboratory conditions, while consuming 75 per cent less energy. By developing cheaper, faster, and more energy efficient photonics, Camgraphic technology could play a key part in the high-speed sustainable networks and smart cities of the future.
Celerum
Celerum is looking to improve the efficiency of logistics and supply chains through artificial intelligence based on natural processes and behaviours, such as those shown by insects, fishes and evolution.
Although the technology is at an early stage, a project in Scotland showed it had the potential to cut carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent if suppliers and logistics firms were willing to collaborate and share loads, contributing to more efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
Des Solutio
Des Solutio is working on safer and greener alternatives to the toxic solvents used to extract active ingredients by the pharmaceutical, personal care, household goods and food industries. It is creating new methods to use natural solvents found in a huge range of plants to replace substances such as ethanol currently used — helping to make industry infrastructure more sustainable and promoting more responsible consumption and production.
Elute Intelligence
Elute Intelligence’s software tools are designed to help users intelligently search, compare and analyse complex documents by mimicking the way people read. Its first commercial product reads patents, allowing users to search libraries and understand the results within minutes. It has also developed a COVID-19 reader to support academics researching the disease, and has plans to develop an enterprise wide search tool. As such, the company’s tools help to enhance research, technological capabilities and innovation.
Fieldwork Robotics
Fieldwork Robotics is developing agricultural robot technology to harvest soft fruit and vegetables. It has the potential to improve agricultural productivity by replacing human pickers with more skilled robot operators. More accurate picking and reduced human contact will also reduce food waste, and a lower reliance on migrant labour could also lead to fewer carbon emissions.
Insignals Neurotech
InSignals Neurotech’s wireless wearable devices are designed to precisely measure wrist rigidity to help surgeons place brain implants more accurately.
The first product is aimed at supporting treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is the world’s fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease. By 2040, it is predicted that 13 million people will become victims.
Molendotech
Molendotech’s technology rapidly detects pathogens in water. Its SirenBW kit, which can be used on site, cuts testing times from up to two days to under 30 minutes because samples do not need to be sent to a laboratory, enabling agencies to swiftly assess water quality.
The company has also developed novel methods to detect specific bacteria for use in industries such as food, where it has the potential to extend shelf life and reduce waste.
Nandi Proteins
Nandi Proteins technology creates customised ingredients based on vegetable and animal proteins. These can be used to replace undesirable ingredients, such as fat, gluten and E-number additives in processed foods, or those people do not want to consume: for example, replacing animal proteins, such as eggs, with vegetable proteins to turn vegetarian products vegan.
Nandi’s technology has the potential to support plant-based meats and reduce chemicals in foods, supporting more sustainable agriculture and making affordable food more nutritious
NTPE
NTPE is developing cellulose-based, low-cost, low-power, electronics to replace silicon in some applications. Called Paper-E, the novel technology means electronic circuits, sensors, semiconductors and even solar panels onto paper.
Cellulose is a natural, recyclable material. Its use can help reduce the severe environmental impact of silicon mining, use and disposal. The technology is at an early stage, but there are potential applications for medical biosensors and in education
PoreXpert
PoreXpert, a software and consultancy firm, has novel methods to model the voids within porous materials and how gases, liquids and colloidal suspensions behave within them. Applications include helping companies understand the nature of their oil and gas reserves to improve the efficiency of exploration and extraction. It is also being used to help maximise the lifespan of the UK’s Advanced Gas Cooled nuclear reactors, which generate 20 per cent of the UK’s energy without greenhouse gas emissions.
Pulsiv
Many of the gadgets we use everyday waste about half the energy they need — that’s why power converters and devices get hot, and cooling fans start into life. The cause is inefficient power conversion. When multiplied by the billions of gadgets used worldwide, this means national energy systems are forced to generate much more electricity than is actually used. Pulsiv’s novel technology converts more than 90 per cent of the electricity a device needs, in a smaller, lighter and cheaper to run form factor. Pulsiv has the potential to be a significant company if its technology is adopted at scale.
The Vaccine Group
The Vaccine Group is using its novel vaccine platform as a basis for a wide range of vaccines, mainly for use in animals, targeted at zoonotic and economically-damaging diseases. Among those under development are vaccines to combat COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa fever, African Swine Fever, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Effective animal vaccines support more sustainable agriculture and prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans — sometimes with devastating effect.
