Emergent Technology
Emergent Technology defines the development of new and cutting-edge innovations that are on the path from early concept to full commercialisation. These technologies are key to both start-ups and established companies in securing a lead in their market.
Otto Simon’s staff have specific knowledge and hands-on experience in supporting clients as they advance their technologies through critical development stages. This includes assessing feasibility, developing robust process safety frameworks, delivering Opex/Capex estimates and undertaking technical due diligence to support funding rounds or grant applications. We are able to provide guidance on intellectual property protection, the integration of core technology into larger plants, and the safe scale-up of systems from laboratory or pilot level through to commercial operation. By answering key questions around scope, performance, cost, programme and compliance, we provide clarity and confidence to technology developers and their investors.
Our track record demonstrates that we are a reliable partner for organisations bringing new technologies to market. We have supported clients in building demonstration plants that formed the basis for the first commercial facilities. OSL aids companies complete funding rounds and have worked alongside innovators to secure grants and deliver essential trials. Our involvement often spans the full lifecycle of a project, from early-stage concept and feasibility through to detailed design, EPCm, commissioning and operational support.
We work collaboratively with our clients, taking the time to understand both the technical ambition and the commercial realities of their projects. We understand the specific challenges experienced in the scale-up of technology and in the required demonstrations as it passes through the TRL process. As an Employee-Owned Trust, every member of the Otto Simon team is directly invested in the success of our clients, which fosters accountability, pragmatism and a partnership-driven approach. Guided by our values of respect, integrity, responsibility, camaraderie and pragmatism, we are committed to delivering solutions that are safe, effective and tailored to the unique challenges of industrial biotechnology projects.
How OSL Can Help Clients
OSL positions itself as a strategic engineering partner, providing the technical expertise a client needs to commercialise their technology. Their services are designed to address the key challenges and questions a client will face:
- Engineering Partner / Owner's Engineer: We can act as our client's engineer, providing independent technical oversight and ensuring the project is executed to the highest standards.
- Developing and Integrating Core Technology: Helping clients develop their core technology into a fully integrated, scalable, commercial process.
- From TRL 4/5 to TRL 9: Over these critical scale-up phases, we help clients validate their technology from laboratory to commercial scale.
- Developing and Securing Intellectual Property (IP): Otto Simon support clients in defining their technical basis to successfully secure patents and develop broader IP.
- Technical Due-Diligence: OSL provides detailed technical reviews for investors or project developers to validate technologies, evaluate project OPEX/CAPEX estimates, and to identify performance, cost, and safety risks.
- Process Safety: This is a core part of OSL's offering. We conduct hazard studies and safety assessments to ensure the plant can be built and operated safely, and complies with all applicable regulations.
How OSL Delivers on Its Promises
OSL helps clients to demonstrate their project's viability through a structured approach. We develop engineering deliverables from firm technical foundations to provide the client and potential investors with a clear and verifiable design package addressing the following questions:
- What will the plant look like (Scope) - Develop a detailed scope of work, including conceptual and feasibility studies, to define the plant's design and operational requirements.
- What will the process deliver (Performance) - Define raw material consumption, throughput, power and utility requirements, on-stream time, labour demands etc, to establish the overall operating costs.
- How much will the project cost to build (Capex) - Produce capex (capital expenditure) estimates, from order-of-magnitude costs, in early phases, to sanction grade estimates.
- How long will the plant take to build (Programme) - Develop a project schedule, outlining key milestones, critical path activities, and timelines for design, procurement, and construction.
- Is the process safe to operate (Process Safety) - Conduct rigorous process and functional safety studies, to identify and mitigate risks.
- Does the plant meet applicable standards (Regulatory Compliance) - Provides expertise in regulatory compliance, ensuring the project meets all applicable legal and planning requirements.
Meet Our Head of Sector
Peter Creer
Peter is a highly experienced process engineer and project manager with expertise in various process industries. He has led detailed engineering design teams, overseeing projects from conceptual design to plant commissioning and de-bottlenecking. Peter has a strong background in process safety and environmental management and is our Head of Sector for Emergent & Biotechnology.
Drift Energy
Vessel Integration
OSL have been working with Drift Energy to develop their Hydroloop Project. OSL were responsible for the design of the process plant, and the integration with the
vessel design.
Calysta Demonstration Plant
OSL were Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on the project, carrying out detailed design, expediting procurement, managing construction, and plant commissioning alongside CPI.