The Ploughshare Operating Model

Ploughshare Innovations has an exclusive licence to suitable Dstl technologies for commercial exploitation in non-defence markets. Since Dstl files between 30-40 new patent applications each year, Ploughshare has a significant pipeline of new technologies available for exploitation.

The patents benefit from robust prosecution and protection by the MOD, while the technology itself, derived from targeted research programmes, has often been developed to the successful prototype or product stage and may simply need to be modified for non-defence applications.

Once identified, these opportunities are available for either licensing or new venture formation. In particular cases, where civilian exploitation is consistent with MOD requirements, strategic joint ventures may be entered into to commercialise the opportunity. Ploughshare currently has a number of licence deals, spin-out companies and joint ventures in its portfolio.

Although less prominent than patents, the exploitation of other IP rights (software, trademarks, design rights and know-how) are all undertaken by Ploughshare.

If an opportunity requires funds for civilian commercialisation, public sources include the Rainbow Seed Fund, PUK, and NESTA to which Ploughshare has good access. Private venture capital finance is used by our spin-outs and we always welcome contact from any interested party with funds available for technology commercialisation.

Ploughshare can also draw on limited funding from its own Ploughshare Innovation Fund which can be utilised to expedite the early stages of this process.