Within ELR1K, a proof-of-concept software tool for microkinetic model construction (the microKinetic Engine, abbr. μKE), ready for commercialization was developed. In order to accomplish this, we started from an available version of the tool which was already validated in an academic research context. In essence, this Proof of Concept grant has brought an ‘academic’ software package up to commercial standards. The project consisted out of 4 parallel tasks: (1) competitive analysis, (2) software development and testing, (3) IPR position and strategy determination and (4) dissemination. During the first trimester, the market needs were assessed through a competitive analysis. It showed that our software package differentiates itself from the current competition through its user-friendliness and versatility: being able to construct complex chemical reaction networks without any programming efforts is its unique selling point unmatched by any other package. In parallel, during the whole project duration, the core code of the μKE was developed further, i.e. extension of capabilities and inclusion of new functionalities, while a user-friendly GUI was designed and implemented. In addition, a software manual, including case studies is provided. The IPR strategy determination led to currently on-going negotiations for exclusively licensing out the software package to ShARP Engineering, a Belgian consultancy company specialized in chemical reaction and reactor engineering (
http://www.sharpengineering.be/(opens in new window)). The dissemination activities led to an increased visibility of the software by participation to two large international conferences with an exhibition booth to showcase the software, i.e. the 2016 AIChE Annual Meeting (USA) and Europacat2017 (Italy). Finally, a three-day seminar on chemical reaction and reactor engineering, i.e. the ‘ponte Vecchio’ course (
http://www.Vecchio.UGent.be(opens in new window)) was organized from 23rd to 25th of August, 2017 at Florence, Italy. A survey taken during this training course indicated that 3/4th of the attendees identified that the microKinetic Engine would be useful at their institute.
A fully functional version of the software will become available online soon for trial purposes.
