Leveraging Deep Tech Innovations for Impactful Outcomes 

Colab-8 Consulting is a boutique consultancy renowned for looking at how best deep tech innovation can be unlocked for commercial and societal impacts. In so doing it has partnered with a number of European Higher Education & Research institutions, including Cambridge University, Oxford University, Cranfield University, Kaunas Institute for Technology and Vilnius University, IECT and EIT in helping unlock more of their deep-tech innovations for commercial adoption.

Leveraging Deep Tech Innovations for Impactful Outcomes – Colab-8 & Cranfield University: Pioneering Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) Technologies: 

Client: Cranfield University Tech Transfer Office 

Industry: Deep Tech Research & Innovation, WBE Technology 

Services: Venture Build, Consultancy, Market Research & GTM Strategy 

Challenge: 

The global COVID-19 pandemic created a rapid acceleration within Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) technologies. As a world leading innovator within this sector, Cranfield University had prototyped a unique testing process whose flexibility in testing for various pathogens and other biomarkers has the potential to become a key enhancement in monitoring systems being established and scaled in markets across the world. 

Challenge Quote: “The challenge of building a robust go to market strategy here was twofold. Firstly being able to map and quantify extremely complex markets and value chains, the operation of which varies enormously across global market segments and then aligning the insights gained to critically assess a number of business models that could be commercialised. In so doing we would have to validate and test a number of assumptions around unit economics and customer preferences.”

Key Solutions 

1. Market Validation and Value Chain Analysis: Using primary and secondary research methodologies, Colab-8 evaluated a number of applicable markets, pinpointing key trends, technological gaps and opportunities for new innovation. A detailed value chain analysis across a complex chain of both public and privately owned and operated infrastructure illuminated strategic partnership opportunities, optimizing a path from sample collection to actionable data analysis and therefore a commercial alignment for a spinout to be established and scaled. 
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging its extensive network, Colab-8 was able to introduce the research team to industry leaders including senior executives within applicable markets across public health, utilities, investment, and tertiary service providers. Accessing highly sensitive information through confidential interviews, Colab-8 were able to give a voice to future customers which shaped the best go to market strategies recommended. Colab-8 were also able to leverage their network to make introductions to commercial partners who were able to incubate and accelerate the innovation further. 
3. Deep Tech Research & Competitor Analysis: Colab-8 partnered with the research team at a laboratory level in order to gain an in-depth understanding and commercial costing around the unit economics of scaling the technology. In accessing their deep tech innovation network, Colab-8 were able to identify where the innovation sits against other research developments and where USP’s and comparative advantages could be exploited. COlab-8 also analysed comparable companies operating in a variety of markets to better understand the risk profiles of different business models and market entry points. 
4. Governance: Recognising the potential societal and environmental impacts of this technology, particularly in emerging economies, Colab-8 played a pivotal role in shaping the conversation around impact vs financial reward. Colab-8’s model of integrated impact within commercial business models provided a value proposition capable of generating largescale social gain whilst generating a runway capable of ensuring sustainable long-term growth and future innovations. Colab-8 suggested a number of incorporation structures that could provide ongoing assurance. 

The Colab-8 Difference 

Colab-8’s pioneering work around early-stage collaboration with deep tech innovators, in this case within globally recognised Higher Education institutions, opens the door to more impactful technologies reaching markets in a robust, tested and sustainable route of commercialisation. By identifying risks early, often in complex value chains and business models, Colab-8 is able to help develop robust value propositions, we not only pave the way for successful commercialisation but also ensure sustainable, long-term growth and impact for founders and customers. 

Discover more about how Colab-8 is pioneering the future of deep-tech innovation one partnership at a time.