Technology Commercialization

Our Technology Consulting Division staff members work with a variety of technology developers and venture capitalists in a range of industry segments to provide assistance in the critical steps of Technology Commercialization:

• Technology Characterization
• Market Analysis
• Implementation Planning

A sequence of interrelated activities brings a new technology or an adaptation of existing technology to the marketplace. Normally, the technology has successfully undergone proof-of-concept testing through at least the pilot scale, and frequently through prototype demonstration; and trials may also have been completed at selected customer locations.

Our typical assignments have focused on both stand-alone equipment units as well as complete process systems for water and wastewater treatment; gaseous and particulate emissions control; hazardous waste destruction; and general chemicals processing.

Our staff members partner with our customers to prepare an overall Technology Characterization centered on three major sequential tasks.

• Define the technologys demonstrated attributes, key features and range of capabilities
• Assess its state of development with regard to potential weaknesses or key data gaps that may require resolution, including work currently underway or planned
• Develop a comparative appraisal of the technology to both leading, established alternatives as well as other known developmental concepts that highlight relative, significant advantages and disadvantages

The characterization is then used to define potential market applicability by technology use and industry segment. This preliminary market applicability can be designed as narrowly or as broadly based as desired by the customer.

Our Market Analyses, conducted either independently or in coordination with our customer's in-house resources, are prepared in a staged fashion, sequencing from broad overviews to successively more focused examinations.

• Define the size of current and future projections
• Consider the timing of the implementation as to when the technology should go commercial to capture certain markets
• Define both international and domestic market regions
• Provide accessibility to technology sourcing, cost sensitivity, etc.
• Define application requirements or the technology minimum performance requirements
• Identify the most competitive positioning of our customer's technology against both the competitors' positioning and other impetitive technologies
• Define industry trends/alternative approaches and threats to near-term acceptance of the technology

Implementation Planning defines the best path forward by combining aspects of business strategic and tactical planning with business and technical risk management. FOCIS Associates tailors each plan to each customer's business objectives and the particular state of technology development involved through an integrated FOCIS/customer team involving a high degree of collaboration among business management, marketing, and technical staff. Most Implementation Plans, while highly customized, share many common elements.

• Assess the market opportunity that entails in-depth analyses of market subgroups or specific customers to evaluate technology fit, from both a performance perspective and customer preferences regarding business/technical "culture"
• Define a workable marketing approach that addresses competitive positioning, alliance strategies, technology/service bundling (offerings such as complete systems versus just equipment, licensing versus fully engineered systems), etc.
• Define technology enhancement/development requirements for additional testing or demonstration work to resolve weaknesses, fill data gaps, and/or gain technology acceptance, including a map for meeting these requirements
• Evaluate customer resource development in terms of range of skills and depth of staff relative to the requirements for additional development work as well as the type of equipment, systems, and service offerings envisioned; and, define approaches for fulfilling any shortfalls in conjunction with alliance strategies and general business concepts