Sagentia, the Cambridge based product development company, reports continued growth in emerging markets contracts.
It says it is working on 12 projects to help industrial, consumer and medical device customers penetrate emerging economies, including China and India.Recent projects include supporting the development of the Enigma ML (mini-laboratory) prototype system as part of the RANGER consortium.
The consortium was led by Enigma Diagnostics and, in addition to Sagentia, included the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.
The RANGER project was funded by a €3 million grant by the European Commission Framework 7 programme to support the development of a rapid, fully automated molecular diagnostic system for Seasonal Influenza. The Enigma ML system is now being commercialised by Enigma Diagnostics and GSK for countries including India, Brazil and Russia.
Sagentia says it has also seen real project momentum with consumer durables companies, helping them take products into the Chinese market. Contracts include a strategic voice of the customer project for one of Europe’s largest appliance manufacturers to identify new home appliance opportunities in China; a cost challenge product development project for a leading industrial printing and coding company, and work supporting a Chinese industrial multi-national to innovate new products for its domestic and global markets.
“We see a huge opportunity around products and services in the emerging markets, but the issues Western companies have faced trying to capitalise on it have been well publicised,” says Brent Hudson, CEO, Sagentia.
“Success hinges on a real market understanding that helps define operational approach and strategy around price point, distribution, usability and how to adapt a product’s user interface for consumers in an emerging market.
“We are working with our customers to help them get it right and capitalise on that all important double digit market growth. We are seeing a very clear upward trend in these projects as our customers act on the strategic need to maximise opportunities in developing markets.”
To provide important insights and perspectives into the optimal strategies Western companies should take to capture the full potential of emerging markets, Sagentia is hosting a free seminar with guest speakers from Covidien, China-Britain Business Council and Mayer Brown in London on October 14.
Topics will include market needs analysis, industrial design, technology transfer issues and how to approach frugal innovation. Attendees will include Medtech and FMCG organisations that are looking at, or need to look at, the opportunities from the emerging markets as well as industry thought leaders.
• To attend the seminar, email Sagentia via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
