
The latest thought leadership from our expert teams

How to increase profitability in indoor farming
Indoor farming promises high yield, high quality and locally-grown crops. But despite steadily decreasing operating costs, many crops are still not profitable. So, where are the innovation opportunities to drive down costs...
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics
- Sensing

The future of vertical farming: the intelligent ecosystem
Vertical farming promises a step change in production density, providing significant efficiency savings with the additional benefit of improved product quality. Vertical farming also presents the only viable option for growing crops within urban environments...
- AI & Data Analytics consultancy
- Innovation management
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics
- Sensing

Our robot navigation algorithm could open up a route to new automation opportunities for industry
It’s a common fallacy that the task of perfecting navigation for robots and autonomous vehicles is relatively straightforward.
- AI & Data Analytics consultancy
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics
- Tracking & location

At the cutting edge of innovation in Asia-Pacific medtech
There is no doubt that I’ve had a busy few months as head of our medtech division for the Asia Pacific region. As judge for the new MedTech Innovator APAC scheme, I’ve been on the hunt for the best and brightest medical technology start-ups in the region. This process has given me a remarkable insight into the challenges facing the region’s growing healthcare field...
- Mechanical engineering
- Optics
- Strategic advice
- User Experience (UX)

Our wet shave challenge: how fluid delivery innovation can enable a ‘device plus chemistry’ future
The ‘device plus chemistry’ movement is making its presence felt in areas such as home care and beverages as well as oral care and beauty.
- Fluids & thermodynamics
- Industrial design
- Mechanical engineering
- User Experience (UX)

Looking beyond the headlines to the unmet needs in mechanical ventilation
Recent months have seen an extraordinary global focus on intensive care and mechanical ventilators, as governments respond to the COVID-19 emergency. Understandably, much of the media attention has concentrated on urgent efforts to create the capacity to cover worst case pandemic scenarios. But beyond the headlines, what role will innovation now play in improving ventilators and ventilation?
- Human factors
- Mechanical engineering
- Sensing
- Strategic advice

Our baby bottle challenge: highlighting fluid expertise that delivers across industries
Fluid delivery is harder than it looks. And if precise and robust control of delivery can dramatically enhance the convenience, performance and user experience of a product, the opposite can undermine its reputation at a stroke.
- Fluids & thermodynamics
- Industrial design
- Mechanical engineering
- User Experience (UX)

Reducing risk with cross-sector thinking: an aeroponics example
Leveraging a broad range of technical experiences, from seemingly unrelated fields can help solve critical problems. This example looks at aeroponics in terms of challenges within the vertical farming sector, showing how insight in the right place can transform work across industries...
- Fluids & thermodynamics
- Mechanical engineering
- Physical sciences

The challenges of human/robot interaction in the real world
Robotics can enable humans to work better, faster and more precisely. We specialise in developing robotics in areas not traditionally automated, and sometimes in areas where automation was not even thought possible...
- AI & Data Analytics consultancy
- Embedded software
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics
- Sensing

Robotics and automation in construction
While automation and robotics have benefited automotive assembly, warehousing, and agritech, beyond some early forays, automation and robotics in construction applications are noticeably scarce.
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics

Low cost nano-climate control for vertical farming
Vertical farming pushes the boundaries of a microclimate. But while lighting and sensors have evolved, cooling systems are almost identical to those first introduced in the 1900s. Vertical farming pushes the boundaries...
- Dispense
- Fluids & thermodynamics
- Mechanical engineering

Bringing desirability to medical devices
The recent launch of the Apple Watch Series 4 is the latest example of a device developed by a traditional consumer product company making a well-publicized entry into the patient-facing medical device market. Patient-facing devices...
- Digital health
- Electronics & ASICs
- Human factors
- Industrial design
- Mechanical engineering
- Product realisation
- User Experience (UX)