Ploughshare is part of the UK Ministry of Defence that commercializes publicly funded defense research. It was established in 2005 to pursue commercialization for public benefit while supporting defense obligations. Ploughshare provides unique technologies from defense research, helps companies increase their speed to market, and is expert in spin-outs, licensing intellectual property, and providing commercialization services. Examples provided include spin-outs in areas like biodetection and medical devices, as well as licenses granted for technologies in biomedical detection, electronics and communications, and defense and security areas.

1. Introduction to
Ploughshare
Fitting technology
for Industry

2. Who are
Ploughshare?
Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

3. Who are Ploughshare?
Mission statement:
“to actively pursue the commercialisation of publicly funded research for
the benefit of all, while supporting Dstl’s obligations to MOD”
Established in 2005;
Ploughshare, with its unique
Ploughshare provides access to Dstl’s intellectual
unique, commercially property, is the front door for
focused technologies. accessing that research
We help companies
increase their speed to
market and competitive
edge
Slide
3

4. What does
Ploughshare
do?

5. What does Ploughshare do?
Ploughshare are experts in:
• Spin-outs /Joint ventures
• Commercialisation services
• Licensing IP
Complementary activities:
• Supporting creativity through IP pipeline development (PIF)
• Rewarding inventors
• Controlling IP costs
• Longer term: Off-the-shelf (COTS) opportunities for MOD
Slide 5

6. Spin-outs
Examples

7. Spin-Outs
P2i
Plasma Surface Coating Process
Applications:
 Electronics
 Lifestyle clothing and footwear
 Bio-consumables
 Military
www.p2ilabs.com
Slide
7

8. Spin-Outs
Enigma Diagnostics
Rapid Detection & Identification of
bacteria and viruses at the point of
sampling
Applications:
 Biothreat
 Veterinary
 Point of care diagnostic
www.enigmadiagnostics.com
Slide
8

9. Spin-Outs
ProKyma technologies Ltd.
Biological cell collection/analysis
instrumentation
Applications:
 In Vitro Diagnostics
 Life Sciences Research
www.prokyma.com
Slide
9

10. Spin-Outs
Claresys Ltd
Optical Innovation
Applications:
 Surveillance
 Industrial Monitoring
www.claresys.com
Slide
10

11. Spin-Outs
Subsea Asset Location Technology
(SALT) Ltd
Passive Underwater Beacons to allow easier
detection by SONAR
Applications:
 Fishing/Aquaculture
 Oil/Gas
 Utilities i.e Subsea power/telephone lines
 General marine (civil and military)
navigation
www.cesalt.com
Slide
11

12. Spin-Outs
ESROE
Electronic Surveillance and Support software
solutions
Applications:
 Cutting edge information processing solutions
for Electronic Warfare systems
 World’s only Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS)
software for real-time identification of radar
signatures
 From armoured vehicles and UAVs to large
multi-role warships and surveillance aircraft
www.esroe.com
Slide
12

13. Licenses
Examples

14. Biomedical, Clin
ical &
Pharmaceutical
BBI Detection

15. Lateral Flow Device
Requirement: Solution:
Sample & detect hazardous Integrated hand held device
substances at the same time to
• Rapid sampling of 8 targets
support front line personnel
simultaneously
• Can test powder, liquid or surfaces
directly
• Can be used wearing protective clothing
•Applications include: surface testing for
food allergens or illegal drugs, or defence
uses in bio-threat and explosives
detection.
Licensed to
Slide
15

16. Electronics &
Communications
Thales

17. Compact Ultra Wideband (UWB)
Antenna
Problem: Solution:
Modern radio communications • Can cover the UWB frequency spectrum
require multiple and cumbersome of 20MHz – 6.0GHz.
limited bandwidth antennas • Omni-directional radiation pattern, over
the entire impedance match bandwidth
• Offers a solution to a wide range of
applications:
• Suitable for
GPS, GSM, WLA, CNR, GNSS, DF, EW,
JTRS and MIMO applications.
• Wi-Fi; Wi-Max; Bluetooth; High
Definition TV and DVD Video; 3G; Digital
Radio and others including Wi-PlaDs
incorporated in UWB chip-sets.
• Military and commercial Tx/Rx UWB
antennas
• Direction finding Antennas
Side
17

18. Digital Radar Electronic Support
Measures
Requirement: Solution:
• Maintaining the advantage Full digital radar
in awareness capability
•Greater accuracy and improved
sensitivity
•Increased quality of information
•Improved through life costs
•Potential to develop in areas beyond
Naval
Licensed to
Slide
18

19. Defence &
Security
Ceramic Armour
Super Bainite Steel

20. Ceramic Armour
Requirement: Solution:
• Need lighter weight armour
Ceramic armour panel element
• Multi-round, co-incident hits –
limited protection •Interlocking lugs dissipate energy to
provide improved ballistics protection
•Affords same protection for less weight
or increased protection for same weight
Licence agreed in 2006 with an SME defence
company with a royalty payable on non-MoD sales
Slide
20

21. Super Bainite Steel
Requirement: Solution:
A UK onshore production capability
for armour steel High Hardness Armoured Steel
Development of new secondary
hardening process
• Lower weight
• Easier machining/shaping than
conventional armoured steel
• Production Assessment
conducted with Tata (260 Tonnes)
• Processing Licensees now being
sought
Slide
21

22. Behind Armour Blunt Trauma Test Rig
Requirement: Solution:
Body Armour Development
‘Benchmark’ test rig for body
armour development
• Measurement of rate of change
not just depression
• Non-contact measurement
system avoids potential damage to
test equipment
• Potential to provide benchmark
measurement system for testing
various systems
Licensed to
Slide
22

23. Any Questions?
Contact Ploughshare
+44 (0) 1794 301602
info@ploughshareinnovations.com

24. Thank you
Contact Ploughshare
+44 (0) 1794 301602
info@ploughshareinnovations.com