The work carried out during the project has focused on:
• Regarding re-bioengineering and validation activities:
- Improvements for reducing the SQS device running time processing (focus enhancement, optimization of morphological detections, motors movement optimization, optimization of number of fields captured).
- The application developed to gather, analyse and represent the reports (SQS Lab) obtained from the SQS analyser have beed modified according to clients’ needs and its integration with the SQS Brain device.
- New formula improvements (SQS Test) to optimize spermatozoa morphology structures detection.
- Standalone validation of SQS device, SQS Brain and SQS Lab (stress tests, compatibility test), SQS System scientific validation and customer validation.
• Regarding scaling-up, manufacturing processes incorporate new fluorochrome tubes based on 96-microtiter plates, pipetting robot, revisions and packaging improvements. A great number of upgrades have been included in the SQS Lab to improve the final user experience and to cover extra functional requirements. The SQS Test is the product which has the most changes, not only its image and appearance but also the handling specification and the production scaling. Thanks to improvings, multiply the manufactured quantity by four maintaining all the guarantees in results. Regarding the post-sales warranty and anti-copy protection policies are still under development, warranty seals, cyphering on HDD, source code obfuscation, software licensing security, password protection have already been implemented to cope with the potential misuse of the SQS solution.
• Exploitation, dissemination and business development:
- Industrial property records: ZoitechLab has carried out the record of European Union Trademark and International Trademark (applicable to China and USA) and maintained the internet domains about the SQS solution (Semen Quality System®) in the main territories we have commercial interest (UE including Spain, USA and China).
- Technological Surveillance: ZoitechLab has carried out periodic searches of global patent and non‐patent literature. This activity has helped the company to identify updates and novelties in existing systems.
- IP Criteria: After evaluation of the patentability of an invention related to the SQS solution, it was concluded that only the composition kit and use of the invention are considered as new but not inventive.
- Market forecast: ZoitechLab has focused on Asian market, USA and to a lesser extent, Spain. Moreover, ZoitechLab continue working in LATAM.
- Competitor’s developments: A thorough analysis and follow-up of similar equipment has been done analyzing competitor´s website and industry-related newsletters and attending tradeshows and visiting target markets.
- Client’s feedback: As result of the demonstrations of the SQS (fairs, field visits) the users impressions were collected and used to improve the system.
• Also, professional staff has been sent to the target markets to make demonstrations of the SQS to get end users' feedback. Their impressions were resumed below:
- Regarding the appearance, most of the potential customers have welcomed SQS device size and simple user interface, easy training and manage. The staining system is very well valued, compared with previous process, longer and more expensive.
- Apropos of analysis time, 2 minutes satisfies most users. After this update, no potential customer has risen again that issue.
- Referred to the connectivity of the SQS, solutions developed by ZoitechLab adapted to client (wireless network or Bluetooth) satisfy current users demands.
In general terms, ZoitechLab is satisfied with the improvements done during the whole project time, but they consider their work did not finish yet. The company continues to improve the technical performance of the SQS system and is already working on a new improved version for next year.
In addition, they continue working with their distributors in China, USA, Mexico and Thailand, supporting their actions with permanent contact and periodic visits to consolidate the market. It’s essential being in touch with clients to know their requirements day-by-day.
