New Trends on Our Radar - Nov 2012

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Trends on our Radar

Our regular pick of five hot technology areas and some of the leading innovative companies leading the way (November 2012) Produced by our Open Innovation and Technology Scouting team

Five Emerging Technology Areas and their Leading Innovators

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Medication Adherence

Gesture Control

Smart Water Networks

Financial Technology

Advanced Nuclear


Medication Adherence Near Term Trend

Some studies suggest that more than 50% of patients fail to take their medication as prescribed. This is a growing concern because of negative health implications and costs; the total economic impact of medication non-adherence has been estimated to be as much as $290 billion in the U.S. alone. Simple solutions such as mobile phone reminders have had some impact, but increasingly advanced approaches using new technologies are also being developed.


Example Innovators

HealthPrize, CT, USA HealthPrize leverages rewards and gaming dynamics to motivate people to take their medication. Based on insights from behavioural economics, gaming dynamics, and consumer marketing, the company’s internet and mobile applications aim to increase the value and reward associated with taking medication.

Proteus Digital Health, CA, USA Proteus has developed a pill that contains a tiny body-powered sensor that activates upon contact with stomach acid, and communicates information about medication-taking behaviour and how the body is responding. The data is then stored in a secure database that the patient can easily access and share.

AdhereTech, NY, USA AdhereTech's Smart Bottle Technology measures the contents of a pill bottle in real-time and sends reminders to patients when it senses a pill has not been taken, increasing adherence from ~50% to 90%


Gesture Control Near Term Trend

Microsoft's popular Kinect device, a 3-D camera and software for gaming, has allowed people to play video games with their entire bodies, but requires relatively large movements. The next phase of gesture recognition will allow the control of devices using more precise movements of hands, fingers, eyes, and facial expressions.


Example Innovators

Tobii, Sweden Tobii has developed eye tracking and eye control technology that allows computers to know where users are looking. Initially used to enable communication for people with special needs, the company has also now expanded to the consumer market, making it possible for users to point and interact with devices using eye control.

Leap Motion, CA, USA Leap Motion has developed technology that allows users to control a computer in three dimensions using natural hand and finger movements. The company says its technology is 200 times more accurate than anything else on the market and can track movements down to a 1/100th of a millimetre.

PredictGaze, CA, USA PredictGaze develops face-recognition and gesture-tracking software that can for example pause a video when viewers leave the room, or determine the age of viewers to tailor content.


Smart Water Networks Medium Term Trend

The world’s water supplies will come under increasing stress over the coming decades, with almost half the world’s population living in high water stress areas by 2030. Using information technology, sensing and data to help water networks become more efficient will help address this problem, and is a market that is predicted grow to more than $16 billion by 2020.


Example Innovators

TaKaDu, Israel TaKaDu allows the monitoring of water networks using a Software-as-a-Service solution that detects, alerts and provides real-time insight on network inefficiencies, leaks, bursts, zone breaches, faults and errors, using a water utility’s existing data, and state-of-the-art algorithms.

i2O Water, UK i2O has developed pressure management technology that continuously optimises water pressure in water distribution systems according to consumption and changes in flow. The system can reduce leakage by up to 30%, reduced burst frequency by up to 40% and significantly lowers operating costs.

HydroSpin, Israel HydroSpin has developed in-pipe generators that use the flow of water inside distribution pipes to power low-energy sensors and devices throughout the water network.


Financial Technology Near Term Trend

The financial services industry is being affected by a number of technology trends such as big data, mobility, social media, and collaboration and is also dealing with concerns over trust and security. A range of new innovators are looking to profit from new opportunities that are being opened up by this changing landscape.


Example Innovators

Square, CA, USA Square is a payments company that gives store owners the ability to replace cash registers with a mobile phone or pad running the Square app. Among it’s investors is Starbucks, which also plans to start rolling out Square to 7000 stores across the U.S. The company was co-funded by Jack Dorsey who also founded Twitter.

Klarna, Sweden Klarna is an online payments company that allows consumers to receive their goods first and then pay afterwards, with Klarna assuming the credit and fraud risks on goods from the e-stores. Klarna is able to assess and minimize this risk while benefiting from the increased sales that their system brings.

Fidor Bank, Germany Fidor Bank is was founded in 2009 as a new type of online bank with social collaboration, trust and transparency as core foundations rather than marketing add-ons.


Advanced Nuclear Medium/Long Term Trend

As the challenge of developing more sustainable sources of energy becomes ever more pressing there are an increasing number of innovative companies looking to develop advanced nuclear power that can overcome some of the drawbacks associated with traditional nuclear power. Although the challenges are great, if these companies are successful they could help solve one of our most pressing challenges.


Example Innovators

Transatomic Power, MA, USA Transatomic Power aims to develop reactors that can take high-level nuclear waste and use it to generate electric power. The company says that at full deployment its reactors could use existing stockpiles of nuclear waste to satisfy the world’s electricity needs until 2083.

General Fusion, Canada General Fusion is developing fusion technology to generate affordable energy without radioactive waste. Fusion power is the power generated by processes in which two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus, in contrast with nuclear fission used in traditional nuclear power.

Gen4 Energy, CO, USA Gen4 Energy is developing small and transportable nuclear power modules that can be used to power small communities, industrial sites and government facilities.


Thank you www.ventureradar.com @venture_radar Andrew Thomson, Director Email: [email protected] Tel: +44(0)20 7394 8225

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