Member News
Two new spin-out companies from Newcastle University are bringing cutting-edge technologies to market, with potential to deliver significant industrial and environmental benefits.
Ocular Systems and RecoVolt - both rooted in years of academic research - have launched with newly strengthened leadership teams to support their commercial growth. The spin-outs were supported by North East law firm Ward Hadaway, which advised on all legal aspects, including shareholder agreements, governance and licensing the university's intellectual property.
Ocular Systems has developed a patented 3D particle measurement system that enables real-time, three-dimensional imaging of particles in motion. Designed to support sectors such as pharmaceuticals, batteries, fertilisers, food and cosmetics, the system helps manufacturers better predict how materials will behave during processing - ultimately improving product performance and reducing development time and cost.
The company is led by Executive Chair Dr Neil Loxley, who joined co-founders Dr Sadegh Nadimi Shahraki and Dr Vasileios Angelidakis – the inventors of the technology – and Chris Beevers, who played a key role in shaping the commercial strategy.
Dr Loxley said: “I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant team at Ocular to commercialise their groundbreaking technology, which has the potential to deliver significant value across multiple sectors.”
RecoVolt, meanwhile, is tackling the growing issue of electric vehicle (EV) battery waste. Its dual offering includes an advanced battery discharging kit that makes the deactivation of end-of-life EV batteries safer and faster, along with a diagnostic platform to assess battery health and determine opportunities for reuse or recycling.
The technology was developed by Dr Mahfuz Kamal and Dr Simon Lambert, who are now joined by Stephen Irish and Cristoph Atkins of Smart Origin to support the spin-out’s commercial development.
Dr Kamal, CEO of RecoVolt, said: “I'm so pleased to reach this significant milestone in our journey towards becoming a critical infrastructure provider in EV battery management, helping third-parties significantly contribute towards sustainability goals, increase efficiency and realise financial benefits in a growing EV market."
Sally Sanderson, Associate in the Intellectual Property team at Ward Hadaway, added: "It has been a pleasure to support Ocular and RecoVolt on the first steps of their journey. Their technologies are genuinely novel and the intellectual property licensing considerations were complex. We work with over half of Newcastle University’s current spin-out portfolio and look forward to supporting these businesses as they grow.”
