Business Consultancy for Commercialisation of AI Sign Language Translation Research at Newcastle University

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Newcastle University awarded a contract to Ms Sally Chalk for business consultancy to assist the commercialisation of university research.

The research aims to develop an AI platform using neural networks and deep learning for automatic sign language translation, including anonymisation, sign language generation from text/voice, sign language detection and translation to text/voice, and an interactive product.

The consultancy scope included producing a viable 5-year business plan, finance strategy and pitch pack; acting in the spin-out legal process and company formation matters; creating an investment strategy and securing the first £100k; and getting two use cases operational with support from a freelance product manager, targeting organisations such as Network Rail, Lloyds bank, Finnish or Swiss broadcast companies, or ASDA.

The contract value was £30,000.