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Using a university for product testing

If you’re developing an innovation, one of the key stages you need to go through in your product development innovation journey is product testing. Product testing involves measuring the performance or properties of your product and can be done as soon as you have a working prototype.

Why is product testing important?

Reliable performance data supports your product development journey in a variety of ways.

At prototype stage it will help you decide if your idea is worth pursuing, and as you advance in the development it will tell you where you need to make improvements to get it market-ready.

Developing a new product involves a degree of experimentation. Reliable data will help you identify and solve issues with your product, see what aspects need improving, and discover ways to lower costs.

And when you’re ready to go out to your market, it will help convince investors to believe in you, and provide evidence for product claims.

You might also need scientifically-backed data to ensure you meet industry or market regulations.

Using a university for product testing

University campuses have a wide range of equipment and laboratories, all housed in departments staffed by researchers and academics. The resources are used for university research and teaching, but they’re also often made available to businesses.

Having your product tested at a University demonstrates that your data is rigorous and scientifically-backed.

The Clean Growth UK university network exists to connect businesses with these opportunities. We’ve got hubs at the University of Brighton, Liverpool John Moore, and the University of Portsmouth.

Alongside access to facilities and experts, we can also support you in accessing innovation funding to support product development work.

Clean Growth UK hubs

From engineering to product design, we’ve got a breadth of opportunities across our hubs, including some highly specialised facilities.

The University of Portsmouth’s testing facilities include extreme environments simulation laboratories, biophysical laboratories, and their Institute of Marine Sciences. Their purpose-built Aquatic centre has an aquarium and seawater system that is supplied with filtered seawater and used to test and develop innovations that will be exposed to the sea.

Liverpool John Moore university (LJMU) has developed purpose-built exemplar houses to test emerging green technologies and building methods in testbed houses. These exemplar houses are designed based on standards from the 1920s, 1970s, and present-day. Businesses are able to test building and energy efficiency innovations in them, with support from university researchers.

OSET bikes and the University of Brighton

OSET Bikes are world leaders in electric trails, off road and motocross motorcycles. They started by making electric trials bikes for children. As the company has grown they’ve expanded their range. Their mission is to create the world’s first fully electric adult trials bike.

OSET partnered with the University of Brighton through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to accelerate and enhance their product development journey. They took advantage of expertise in a variety of disciplines, including simulation modelling, engineering design and instrumentation, and electronic control.

This enabled the team to develop a range of experimental testbeds and instrumented electric bikes to give them a deeper understanding of their product.

How do I use a university for product testing?

Our Innovation Accelerator is designed to help you take your green business ideas to the market. It supports innovative ideas and product development, including testing and refining products and services.

We can connect you to any one of our University hubs. Find out more here and get in touch using the contact form.