Internationale Partnersuche

Innovation & Technologie Angebot

A French SME is looking for a commercial agreement with technical assistance or a license agreement for a transfer of an innovative technology which detects insect (hidden and visible) in grain stored in bulk.

Country of Origin: France
Reference Number: TOFR20201112001
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Summary

The company has designed, developed and industrialized an integrated technology in a product line. It provides early detection and evaluates the density of infestations (visible and hidden forms) in stored cereals and pulses (legumes) through the application of proprietary software. 
The company sells mostly in France and is looking for a commercial agreement with technical assistance or a license agreement in EU countries, particularly in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

Description

The company is a SME with less than 10 employees, located near Toulon, in the south of France.

From important know-how coming from the field of defense (sensors, signal processing and information, electronic design, mechanics and mechatronics, harsh environments, human factors), the French company has developed equipment from early detection of insects in cereals and pulses.

For now a decade, the French company developed and sold its equipment, mostly in France, to clients such as companies in charge of monitoring cereals quality (B2B) and exploiting companies, cereals warehouse (B2C). The French company intends now to transfer its technology and know-how by partnering with European companies active on this market, or willing to expand a new activity on this market.

The investment during many years has been beneficial for developing a technology with real operational equipment which could be used in the real life. Several French research institutes have been involved for doing studies which have qualified the technology capabilities in terms of performances. The market is worldwide. The company is able to manufacture the product line based on a network of sub-contractors all located in France.



Three equipment versions are available: 

-V1 (in shipping / receiving) Provide the density of the infestation in trucks and other types of transport in reception.

-V2 (Portable version) Provide the density of the infestation in user-accessible storages. This nomad version, autonomous in energy and controlled by a ruggedized tablet, can be used in all types of means of transport (truck, boat, barge, train) and storage (flat, vertical, big bag...) and at the farm

-V3 (long term storage monitoring) Perform real-time automatic monitoring of the infestation level of a long-term storage greater than 4/5 months ("Silo-Insectometry"). This version makes it possible to decide to set up a new level of temperature, a cooling, a destocking, a cleaning of the grain a long time before seeing an insect on the job or in a trap or a sieve.



The company is now looking for a commercial agreement with technical assistance or a license agreement in EU countries.

Advantages and Innovations

-Innovation: The French company's solution delivers a detection 20 weeks earlier than current tools: Pitfalls and samplers/sieve.



-Advantages: This early detection has many advantages:

•	To skip from a curative strategy using a chemical treatment to a preventive strategy

•	To define/adjust the industrial tool and investment for equipment selection and processing methods

•	To optimize the use of processing equipment to achieve the reduction in the overall cost of production for an ever-increasing demand of quality

•	To reduce the carbon footprint linked to energy consumption

•	To establish a lasting, virtuous and mutually beneficial relationship with storage farmers

•	To develop a strong customer relationship/supplier and trust and implement a communications strategy focused on progress and sustainable development.

•	To get a very quick return on investment.

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Stage Of Development Comment

The technology and the associated equipment (The product line includes three different versions) are already on the market (TRL9).

Requested partner

The partner sought has to know the market or already have a developing business in the grain domain, ideally proposing a product line or services’ offers to storage cooperatives or private companies or first processing industries.

2 types of collaboration are possible :

-   Partner under licence able to propose services to monitor in stored cereals and pulses

-   Partner ready to integrate know-how and manufacturing processes, and to sell the equipment to final clients

Dissemination Countries

Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden