C&W Website Helps Business To Validate Patents Across Europe

An innovative business which has developed a unique low melt thermoplastic compound that could revolutionise the way splints, casts and supports are used for patients has been helped by Coventry and Warwickshire’s dedicated supply chain opportunities website to validate its patent across a range of European countries.

torc2 Ltd, which is based at the Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre in Rugby, has worked with consultants from the Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire in developing the torc material.

To be able to make ‘on patient’ adjustments utilising the low melt property of the material will be of significant benefit in terms of fit and functionality of devices for patients, in particular those with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Hip Dysplasia. Another benefit will be cost savings for the NHS due to the ease of adjusting the devices with no waste.

The company has protected the Intellectual Property (IP) of its innovative material in the UK but wanted to extend the validation to 23 European countries.

Gary Blundell, co-founder of torc2, contacted the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub for advice on funding opportunities.

He was put in touch with Corinne Edwards from the Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation Programme which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

As part of the grant funding of just over £16,000, torc2 was advised to use the Finditin Coventry & Warwickshire portal to post a tender to try to find a supplier to fulfil validation of its European patents at www.finditincw.co.uk

FinditinCW, which was launched in 2020 by the Growth Hub, in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the area’s local authorities and district and borough councils, to give SMEs access to private and public sector contracts, helps buyers find local suppliers across a variety of sectors and was instrumental in connecting Gary to a new supplier to fulfil this tender.

Gary said: “We need to have IP protection because we are involved in a market-place where there are significant players.

“Pure Ideas from Stratford-upon-Avon met with us and it was ‘wow’. Their approach has been exactly what we wanted.

“We get on well with their team and they provide extremely good advice. Pure Ideas has also completed an IP audit for us under the Intellectual Property Office’s IP Access grant scheme, which was extremely useful.

“We were able to achieve a significant saving by using their services as opposed to our previous supplier. I must admit I had my reservations about whether we would find such a supplier on FinditinCW but I have no regrets because we have forged a new relationship with a very progressive firm of patent attorneys.

“Our mission is to improve services for patients, particularly children with walking conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Hip Dysplasia, by producing devices made from torc material which will have the benefit of low-melt manipulation thereby significantly improving the overall experience.

“During this year, we will be launching our own torc filament and granules that will, via an additive manufacturing process, be capable of producing a whole range of orthotic and prosthetic devices.

“The past two years have been a challenge both with the pandemic as well as a worldwide shortage of one of the key elements of our base material, but we expect things to improve on the supply front as we go through the year.”

Adam Plumb, account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said FinditinCW was giving businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire access to a wide range of opportunities in the private and public sector.

He said: “Since FinditinCW was launched in 2020 there have been almost 1,000 opportunities posted with a combined value of over £29 billion, and over 4,000 registered users of the service.

“As torc2 has proved there are a whole host of tenders posted on the site, from niche work to contracts with HS2.

“It is definitely worth businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire registering because it is a great way for firms in our area to work together and boost the economy.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m really pleased that torc2 could make good use of FinditinCW portal. It was set up to enable businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire to work together to help safeguard and create jobs in the region. We have a really diverse range of skills and expertise in our area and it’s great to see local companies working together.”