Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Invention Machine, which specialises in software and services to streamline the innovation process, had a Milton Keynes facility in the UK but closed it at the end of 2002 and retrenched to the States.

Now it has re-entered the UK market and established facilities at Granta Park.

The new sales and administrative operation is currently manned by a team of five but regional manager Steven Drew said that the aim was to grow the operation, “driven by revenues.”

Drew said: “Cambridge is a good location for us. There is a lot of R&D going on locally; it is a good base from which to serve the rest of the UK and it’s convenient from the point of view of staff.”

Invention Machine customers include Boeing, Delphi Automotive, Honda, HP, NASA, Procter & Gamble, Samsung and Shell.

The company’s global operations had been adversely affected by the technology downturn, but having successfully completed a restructuring process, the company is now bullish about its prospects for growth.

President and CEO of Invention Machine, Mark E. Atkins said: “Due to our strong performance in 2003 and anticipated growth in 2004, we have expanded our senior management and sales teams.

“In 2004, we expect to more than double our current sales team to meet the demand, globally, for our GOLDFIRE INNOVATOR product.”

In addition to UK growth and expansion across the US, the company is also seeking to establish offices in Germany and continues to grow its offices in Massey and Lyon, France.