Commercialisation of Virtual Runner (TQEF)

Since summer 2007, Prof. Roderick King and myself have been leading the development of a software simulation of a runner for education, funded by the TQEF. We have recently completed the prototype and have demonstrated it at the ALT day during the Staff Development Festival 2008. Now we are looking towards commercialisation:

• A few weeks ago, an editor from a text book company has seen a demo of this software and was very keen to use it for GCSE textbooks. This would provide a commercialisation in the educational sector. The software could be adapted for a wide range of educational levels, up to graduate studies.
• Three weeks ago we had a meeting with IP specialists who advised us regarding commercialisation of this product. They recommended that a patent for this product in the US would be more suitable than a patent in the UK.

Today Rod and myself had again a meeting, with our Leeds Met Business Development Manager Andrew Marran, who pointed out an opportunity to receive funding from Yorkshire Concept. The application would need to be filed by 28.October. Possible funding would be 35k.

We are going to explore this opportunity and have agreed to meet again next Tuesday.