Outgoing from an in-house invention made three years ago and evaluating a device which is already on the market, a new device based on optical technology was developed.
During the project duration a lot of details could be justified and a lot of problems could be solved. To structure the progress of the project, the performance will be divided in three sectors: technical-, commercial-, and administrative performance.
Technical progress:
Although the technical principle had been solved before, a lot of components had to be identified. During the project the optical source could be narrowed down to two components. Potential optical filters and sensors could be identified and other critical components could also narrowed down to two or three possible components.
A big issue was also to establish strong contacts to potential suppliers but also to potential customers to coordinate their future requirements.
Beside this contacts, a potential strong relationship to CNR (national research centre of Italy), INGV (national geophysics and volcanologist institute) and the centre de la recherché (gas France) could be established during the project duration.
Actual two pilot devices (ugly prototypes) are available as described in the technical report. The process of certification for the main components (e.g. ATEX) already started and also the process of price negotiation has been already initiated.
Commercial progress:
During the project duration a detailed business plan could be elaborated and also a marketing strategy could be defined.
As this niche market is not a free market by offering products but depending on tender criteria of the main player on national markets strong relations to the main players in Austria, Croatia, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and USA could be established.
Potential Distributors in more than 10 countries (new and existing) could be identified and contract negotiations are in progress.
Secondary markets have been identified (like fire brigades, industrial producers, etc.) and their special needs have been evaluated.
Negotiation processes with suppliers (coming from the technical division) already started and the calculation of the final consumer price is in progress in accordance with the main potential clients.
Producing capacities internal but also in cooperation with third parties have been evaluated and a producing strategy including producing alternatives has been elaborated.
Administrative progress:
In a first step, the existing structure of the company has been analysed. The main objectives have been: the available space for expected production, the management capacity, the calculation of technicians needed to guaranty the production, trainings, maintenance and documentation but also the existing IT structure and capacity for managing the archive.
As a result the weakness of the existing IT structure, the weakness of the employee market in the region (lack of technicians) and the language competences could be identified.
To solve these problems, strategies have been elaborated as described in the business plan and the technical report.
