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Approach to Innovation

Providing solutions from science is our passion. We recognise that the key to customer satisfaction is to anticipate customer needs and develop new technologies and innovative solutions that provide our customers with a distinct advantage.  

The strength and quality of PML Applications’ technology and overall portfolio is largely attributable to the leading-edge technologies emanating from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).

PML, as a research establishment, is by its nature knowledge rich. In order to identify potentially successful commercial opportunities from this knowledge base, a system was required to match the capabilities within PML to emerging markets. To meet this requirement a system of Horizon Scanning was developed which enables the gathering of evidence of emerging marine-related markets. Emerging markets were preferred over existing markets as new developing markets offered the best chance of staking out opportunities identified within the knowledge base.

Having identified commercial opportunities, the commercialisation process involves three processes.  Firstly, intellectual property (IP) needs to be identified and understood. In some cases, IP will simply consist of unique scientific knowledge held by individual scientists (know-how). In other cases, the IP may be protected by patent or copyright.  Having identified and protected the IP, the second commercialization process involves proving that a market exists and that the opportunity is capable of making a financial return in that market (proof of concept).  Thirdly, the commercial activity needs to be initiated through licensing, consultancy, spin-out creation or joint ventures. In most cases, this process will involve some form of investment.

Throughout these processes, there are some common activities that underpin commercialization. These include horizon scanning for emerging market opportunities, networking for identification of potential partners or investors and raising awareness of the quality, scope and availability of research and knowledge within PML and PML Applications Ltd.