Market readiness of your innovation GM4W: GeoGuard Module for Water vapor monitoring

An innovator’s experience with the programme.

With colleagues at GReD, Eugenio had developed the science behind their innovation called GM4W, however, they were struggling to develop a strategy for turning this idea into a successful business.

“We were very aware that we come from a research, academic background,” Eugenio explained, “it was clear that business development was an area where we needed support.”

Eugenio found the in-person consulting from BRIGAID immediately beneficial. “Brainstorming at the workshop was great – we identified lots of additional potential clients,” he said, describing the opening 2-day business workshop as “intensive and interesting”. Eugenio also reported that he learned a lot from the Market Analysis Framework tool, “the MAF+ was challenging but well-guided by BRIGAID consultants, plus the tool was user-friendly and easy to interact with.”

For Eugenio, the BRIGAID Business Development Programme increased his business confidence and ability to communicate the value of GM4W An innovator’s experience (with the programme) Dr. Eugenio Realini from GReD, a spin-off from the Politecnico di Milano, is an expert in global positioning systems and water vapour data, but before BRIGAID, he would not have described himself as a confident business person.

Through the BRIGAID Business Development Programme, Eugenio developed the skills – and a business plan – to take his flash flood prevention innovation GM4W further along the road from idea to market. to clients. “I learned a lot – generally, it was really beneficial to get the training,” he reflected, “it is more natural for me now to see things from the potential customer’s view, and to focus during short conversations with clients on things that will capture their interests”.

The process also had concrete results. Along with drafting a business plan that sets the strategic direction of GM4W, Eugenio reports that BRIGAID support in identifying target market segments and quantifying potential market sizes, “changed our perception of where we should start and where we should go next”.

Overall, Eugenio recommended the BRIGAID Programme, “it cleared up our ideas about what it means to do business development”. When asked to describe its impact on his business skills and confidence, Eugenio concluded that, “on a scale of 0-10, the BRIGAID Business Development Programme moved me from a 0 to a 7”.