The challenge
Identifying product improvement
Inkerz, (now trading as JIBB), offers an online and mobile app that captures and turns writing from an infrared pen into a digital render on a whiteboard in real-time. Inkerz saw a way to improve their product and sought assistance with funding support and research to support their product development.
Our response
Collaborating with research expertise
Inkerz’s offering has proven successful in an online remote learning or team collaboration setting.
However, a limitation to the original technology was the requirement for all users to have an infrared pen and receiver to use the product, adding cost and additional handling. To remove this necessity, Inkerz sought R&D expertise and capability in software development (programming expertise) to fast-track the development of their world leading technology.
Inkerz looked to the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, an Australian Government initiative which is funded and supported by the Australian Government, for support and through CSIRO SME Connect Innovation Facilitator Peter Milic, Inkerz accessed two Innovation Connections Business Researcher grants to support the collaboration with the University of New South Wales School of Computer Science and Engineering. The program allowed Inkerz to access the advanced computing facility and cutting-edge machine learning and artificial intelligence approach developed by UNSW researchers and to complete the development of the Pen Smart app.
A third Innovation Connections Graduate Placement grant was secured to support the employment of a recent graduate with relevant expertise into the business to further develop detection software for the AI Pen. Inkerz appointed a graduate from The University of Queensland, Department of Engineering and Computing to undertake the project.
The results
Accessing attractive markets
The success of the project has enabled the business to fast-track expansion and access international markets, including the US where a sales team has been established.
The app is currently being commercialised and was launched in April 2021 attracting strong interest from multinational tech companies and numerous top tier universities in North America, the EU and Australasia.
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