Software offers an online science space

Feb 4 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A MARKET research company has helped shape a piece of innovative software that could revolutionise the way scientific research is analysed, published and shared around the world.

Newcastle-based Marketwise Strategies has carried out proof- of-concept market research to help launch pioneering software company Inkspot Science Ltd, whose platform provides an online collaborative environment where scientists can carry out and share their work.

Working entirely in private, collaborating with trusted colleagues or publishing openly, scientists can also gain access to extensive scientific data without needing to set up and maintain their own systems.

Inkspot also allows them to convert raw data into meaningful and replicable analysis, or to start their research papers as a “digital lab notebook”, which can be peer reviewed and commented on, helping to increase a paper’s robustness and validity.

Inkspot enlisted the help of Marketwise Strategies to help it identify the size of the market, acquire an understanding of how scientists currently “do science” and discover the potential revenue models that are currently acceptable to scientists in both commercial and academic environments.

Marketwise Strategies’ senior research executive Graham Soult said: “The benefits that this software will create for scientists could be pivotal for medical and scientific research.

“Our research for Inkspot delved deeper into who they were trying to reach, and asked questions that they may not have thought about.

“As a result, we were able to advise Inkspot to incorporate those vital details in order to develop a more bespoke and marketable product.”