PP Plus set to issue ‘commercialisation’ rallying call at Advanced Engineering

A collective of specialists is heading to Advanced Engineering with the aim of helping more UK manufacturers commercialise emerging technologies.

PP Plus, which brings together the best of manufacturing, business and academia, will deliver a keynote speech during the show (Oct 30th and 31st) that will encourage domestic companies to work together to ensure IP born here is maximised here – helping to generate wealth and jobs in the process.

It will be the first time the organisation has exhibited at the high-profile industry event and comes after it boosted its membership numbers from 20 to 22 with the addition of business support experts Oxford Innovation Advice and Wanted Studio, a leader in brand, investor confidence and business functions.

Together, they can take innovators from concept development and prototyping to protecting their IP, contract manufacturing and driving sales through PR and marketing.

Richard Spears, Marketing Manager of PP Control & Automation and one of the key drivers behind PP Plus, commented: “We’ve seen massive demand for this initiative since we launched back in April and are currently working with companies to bring new technologies to market in photovoltaic solar panels, reverse vending, vertical farming and AI vision systems.

Richard Spears speaking at the Manufacturing Assembly Network Design & Make Challenge 2024

“It proves there is an appetite out there to commercialise IP and we want to really put our offer on the map at Advanced Engineering, both through our stand and, importantly, through the keynote addresses we are delivering at 2pm on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.”

He continued: “The UK has a wealth of innovative companies that come up with new concepts and ideas that have true commercial potential and the opportunity to scale, especially around green tech. However, they simply don’t have the capacity or additional expertise to realise these fantastic ideas.

“Even if they know where to look for this, they often tie themselves in knots trying to find the right route as the traditional support network is convoluted. That is why this initiative was born and the reaction has been phenomenal.”

PP Plus’ initial focus will be on supporting companies developing solutions for clean energy, future mobility, agritech innovation and machinery/equipment that contribute to a circular economy.

This will create sustainable innovations that will answer critical questions about how we are going to feed ourselves in the future, how do we ‘power’ our society and how do we travel without destroying our planet.

PP Plus members L-R: S2F Marketing, MPA, PP Control & Automation, Wanted Studio, Cucumber PR, WMG, Ogle, Protolabs

The journey starts with a 1-hour discovery session that is completely free of charge and will identify the next steps and the specialist support required to commercialise and scale up the technologies.

That may see the client access one, two or three of the main pillars (manufacturing, business, academia) covering anything from product approval and manufacturing capabilities to accessing grants and funding, marketing support and collaborative research and testing facilities.

Richard went on to add: “We felt it was important to be at the Advanced Engineering show and we’ll have a presence alongside 17 other Silverstone Technology Cluster members in the VIP area, contributing heavily to the themes including innovation, sustainability, government and policy.

“One of the key focuses of our talks will be the changing nature of the investment landscape, with AI attracting a lot more investor attention.

“This is taking some of the momentum away from green/clean and climate tech and one of the things PP Plus can do is help companies come together to capture investment through the power of collaboration.”