TIDMFIPP
Frontier IP Group plc
06 July 2020
RNS Reach
AIM: FIPP
06 July 2020
Frontier IP Group Plc
("Frontier IP" or the "Group")
Portfolio news - Bosch UK to work with Fieldwork Robotics to
optimise robot crop harvesting technology
Frontier IP, a specialist in commercialising intellectual
property, today announces that Robert Bosch Limited ("Bosch") has
entered into an agreement to work with portfolio company Fieldwork
Robotics ("Fieldwork" or the "Company") to accelerate the
development of its novel robot technology to harvest soft fruit and
vegetables.
Bosch UK will collaborate with Fieldwork's engineers to optimise
the Company's soft robotic arms and develop software aimed at
reducing the arms' cost and increasing their speed.
The objective is to move into full-scale production through the
University of Plymouth spin out Fieldwork. The agreement between
Fieldwork and Bosch is a significant step forward in the
commercialisation of the technology.
Frontier IP holds a 26.9 per cent equity stake in Fieldwork, a
holding valued at GBP1,355,000 following the completion in January
2020 of an initial equity funding round for the Company.
This agreement between Fieldwork and Bosch represents a further
deepening of Frontier IP's relationship with Bosch, a leading
global supplier of technology and services that employs
approximately 400,000 associates worldwide. Another Group portfolio
company Pulsiv Solar is working with Bosch to optimise the design
of its energy-efficient solar micro-inverter.
Fieldwork is initially focused on developing robots to harvest
raspberries - they are more delicate, more easily damaged than
other soft fruits, and grow on bushes with complex foliage and
berry distribution. Fieldwork, together with the University of
Plymouth, is also developing proof-of-concept robots for other
crops following interest from leading multinational
agribusinesses.
The Company is using the GBP298,000 raised in the January
funding round to accelerate development and scale up of its robotic
technology.
Work to date has also been supported by a GBP547,250 Innovate UK
grant as part of a GBP671,484 project to develop the multi-armed
robot prototype. Other partners in the project included the
University of Plymouth and the National Physical Laboratory.
Fieldwork was incorporated to develop and commercialise the work
of Dr Martin Stoelen, who splits his work between the University of
Plymouth, where he lectures in robotics and leads the Soft and
Adaptive Robotics lab, and as an Associate Professor at the Western
Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Dr Stoelen has also led projects to develop a cauliflower
harvesting robot systems and a tomato picker, a project run in
partnership with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Jenny Patten, Head of Business Development for Bosch UK, said:
"To accelerate the development of technology that has the potential
to improve people's quality of life and work, it is incredibly
important that organisations - big and small - collaborate, making
the best use of skills, knowledge and resources. To this end Bosch
UK are very pleased to expand our relationship with Frontier IP and
support Fieldwork Robotics in the development of their robotic arm
for harvesting soft fruit and vegetables."
Vivek Kadal, Head of the Bosch Team working on the development
for Fieldwork, said: "It gives Bosch great pleasure to work with
companies that pioneer and change the way robotics are being used
to simplify human working and this partnership adds to our
"invented for Life" objective. Bosch will provide best in class
capabilities to enable Fieldwork to commercialise and bring its
robots to market."
Rui Andres, Fieldwork Robotics Chief Executive Officer, said:
"This agreement is the result of several discussions between all
the parties and the increasing interest in robotics within Bosch's
agribusiness. We are looking forward to working alongside Bosch to
further increase the pace of development and preparing the future
path of our robots".
Neil Crabb, Frontier IP Chief Executive Officer, said: "
Industry engagement is a vital part of validating the commercial
viability of new technology, so we are delighted to be extending
our relationship with Bosch UK. They have provided invaluable
support for our work with Pulsiv in optimising its solar
microinverter for manufacturability.
"Agricultural automation is a long-term trend, but one which has
been thrown into sharp relief recently from the impact on human
labour of COVID-19, demonstrating the potential value of
Fieldwork's technology. We are very much looking forward to working
with Bosch UK on this project."
ENQUIRIES
Frontier IP Group Plc T: 020 7332 2338
Neil Crabb, Chief Executive neil@frontierip.co.uk
Andrew Johnson, Communications & Investor M: 07464 546 025
Relations
Company website: www.frontierip.co.uk
Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser) T: 0203 328 5656
Nick Athanas / Nicholas Chambers
ABout frontier IP
Frontier IP unites science and commerce by identifying strong
intellectual property and accelerating its development through a
range of commercialisation services. A critical part of the Group's
work is involving relevant industry partners at an early stage of
development to ensure technology meets real world demands and
needs.
The Group looks to build and grow a portfolio of equity stakes
and licence income by taking an active involvement in spin-out
companies, including support for fund raising and collaboration
with relevant industry partners at an early stage of
development.
Frontier IP is the commercialisation partner for the University
of Plymouth.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
The University of Plymouth is renowned for high quality,
internationally-leading education, research and innovation.
With a mission to Advance Knowledge and Transform Lives,
Plymouth is a *top 50 research university with clusters of world
class research across a wide range of disciplines including marine
science and engineering, medicine, cybersecurity and psychology. A
three-time winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and
Further Education, most recently in 2020 in respect of its
pioneering research on microplastics pollution in the oceans and
its impact on the environment and changing behaviour, the
University continues to grow in stature and reputation.
It has a strong track record for teaching and learning
excellence, and has one of the highest numbers of National Teaching
Fellows of any UK university. With over 19,000 students, and a
further 9,500 studying for a Plymouth degree at partner
institutions in the UK and around the world, and over 135,000
alumni pursuing their chosen careers globally, it has a growing
global presence.
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk
* Research Fortnight Research Power League Table 2014.
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END
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