Symetrica
University of Southampton spin-out company, Symetrica, is celebrating its contribution in securing a contract from the US government, worth up to $222m, to provide equipment to help protect American citizens from the threat of a 'dirty bomb'.
Symetrica has collaborated with Smiths Detection, a division of the Smiths Group, to provide the technology to produce handheld and backpack radiation detectors to identify substances that could be used by terrorists. The devices are to be given to police, coastguards, border guards and customs officials as the US attempts to clamp down on the threat of a radioactive attack.
The latest contract builds on their success in 2005 when the company won a major contract with the US Department of Homeland Security to develop a drive-through detector for screening vehicles at ports and border crossings.
Symetrica was launched by Dr David Ramsden and his team of post doctoral students from the University’s School of Physics with the help of two DTI SMART awards. Their first base of operations was the University’s SETsquared Business Acceleration Centre, a DTI Higher Education Innovation Fund business incubator.
During initial evaluation at SETsquared, Centre Director David Bream asked Dr Brian Lever, then acting CEO of Symetrica, now Operations Director, to produce a business plan in order to identify the company’s key market opportunities to find a specific application for their research. The technology was developed initially for space, but the range of potential commercial applications was wide, from medical scanners to oil exploration.
Throughout these early discussions, it became apparent that although Symetrica had a technically proficient team, they were lacking commercial experience. They needed guidance to help them sharpen their commercial focus and improve their knowledge of potential important markets, as well as act as a sounding board, providing support and key contacts in industry.
Utilising the Partnership’s 450-member mentor network, David Bream identified Heddwyn Davies as a mentor with the best skills profile for the company. With over thirty years’ experience in technology markets and a career in developing and managing international businesses, Heddwyn had the right combination of technical understanding and business acumen.
Once in place, Heddwyn, Brian and David Bream were able to identify homeland security, a high priority issue in both the UK and US, as the most marketable route to market for their high-performance gamma-ray spectroscopy and imaging technology.
Subsequent funding from SULIS (University Challenge Fund for the universities of Bath, Bristol and Southampton), NESTA and Tennants Ventures enabled Symetrica, and their prime partner Smiths Detection, to take the prototype technology for technical assessment and testing at a US Government laboratory in January 2006. After successful testing and with the help and good reputation of the founder, Dr Ramsden, Symetrica has been able to break into a very difficult market as a non-US supplier.
“Making initial contact with SETsquared was pivotal not only for Symetrica, but also for me as a mentor,” says Heddwyn Davies, now CEO of Symetrica.
“Using their networks and contacts has proved incredibly valuable in accelerating the company growth. Indeed, minutes after giving a presentation at our first SETsquared Partnership Investment Showcase two years ago I was approached by Tennants Ventures offering to invest in Symetrica’s technology.”
Brian Lever adds “The role that SETsquared played as “midwife” was crucial to the success of our new-born business. The professional staff at SETsquared facilitated the vital transition from a technically driven mindset to a commercially oriented culture focusing on market opportunities and needs.”
