The overall feasibility study was divided into 3 tasks: intellectual property study, technical specifications, and business plan development.
The IPR study was subcontracted as a part of the coaching activity facilitated by EASME for the SME Instrument Phase 1 project. The task was subcontracted to Coutandin & Wacker Unternehmensberatung Partnerschaft, which is a German management consultancy that among other activities also offers highly competitive technology management consultation, benchmarking, strategic IPR consulting and patent management services. No new or inventive steps can be derived from the initially identified technological advantages because of very complete prior state of the art of the
disclosed technology. Nevertheless, niche was identified where an inventive step can be seen and used for a further IP strategy. This will be taken into account in further technological product development as well as in refining the core strategy for product/market fit and commercialisation activities in the selected target markets. The basis of an IP strategy has been formed and will be further developed during the Phase 2 of the innovation project. Meratel will also apply for own IPR within the Phase 2 project.
The main technological task that was addressed within the UP-TYRE Phase 1 feasibility assessment was to determine the specifications for the process control and automation system to enable scaling up Meratel’s thermal conversion technology. In order to guarantee the highest quality and relevance of technical feasibility assessment results, Meratel subcontracted Prisma Electric (Kharkiv, Ukraine) to support running the technical feasibility studies, research and composition of technical tasks, and planning how to run the practical automation process. Prisma Electric provides comprehensive complex solutions in the field of electric energy supply, energy saving and automation control systems of technological processes, and has previously collaborated with Meratel in several projects. Detailed requirements, specifications and design of the system to enable continuous monitoring of relevant parameters (e.g. heat, pressure) throughout the conversion process was documented, and will be used for final product development during the Phase 2 innovation project.
The economic feasibility study was carried out by combining different methods, such as desk research and holding meetings with potential customers. All target market studies were requiring environmental rules studies, existing practices of used tires collection, storage and further use or processing. Very important point was identified as local legal regulations and permit and licensing procedures. We also took into consideration products import substituting status for majority of target markets. Important knowledge was obtained from the fields of investment and banking practices for new projects financing and national programs of waste recycling and alternative green energy production. Although the prior art for tyre pyrolysis technology is already widely covered in terms of IPR, the industry and market analysis carried out within the feasibility assessment show that there are no direct competitors for Meratel that would be able to offer a modular and flexible solution for power and heat energy autonomous operation. The industry in target markets is however very mature and mostly occupied by large incumbent petrochemical companies with their monopolies in energy sources supply. Meratel as a newcomer to these markets aims to enter with a combined cost and differentiation strategy which relies on offering a modular plant solution for producing cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative energy source.
