Sagentia

Sagentia, formed as Scientific Generics in 1986, is an international technology consulting organisation, with a reputation for successfully commercialising emerging science and technology. In 2006, the company changed its name from Scientific Generics to Sagentia to coincide with the company’s 20th anniversary.
The company operates in six global market sectors – medical, industrial products, consumer products, chemicals, materials & energy, telecoms & media and public sector - developing new technologies, products and services.

History

Sagentia’s heritage has always been closely linked to that of the 'Cambridge Phenomenon' – the high technology cluster based around Cambridge University in the UK that emerged in the 1980s. Sagentia was founded by Professor Gordon Edge, one of a small number of key individuals who have played a central role in the development of the cluster into the globally recognised position that it occupies today. From launch in 1986 the central characteristic of the company has been a drive to innovate and to create value from technology. Sagentia’s way of working has developed since the beginning and is embodied in the phrase “Collective Technology Wisdom”. The company grew through the 80s and 90s, moving headquarters from their initial base near the Cambridge Science Park to the current location in Harston, just south of the city of Cambridge in 1995.
Sagentia Group is currently listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), and is a founder member of the Cambridge Network.

Current business

Sagentia operates in six key global market sectors: chemicals, materials & energy, consumer products, industrial products, medical, public sector, telecoms & media.

The range of services offered cut across all market sectors including product development, design and build, intellectual property analysis and strategy and opportunity discovery at the front end of innovation.
Clients include: Johnson & Johnson; AstraZeneca; BT; Department of Trade & Industry; Hasbro; PepsiCo; Trumpf; Vodafone.

The company has offices in 4 countries around the world: Cambridge, UK; Washington, USA; Frankfurt, Germany; Hong Kong, China.

Awards

The company has won several awards in recent years:
* February 2009 - Safaricom & Vodafone won Best Mobile Money Service category in the GSM Global Mobile Awards 2009 for M-Pesa developed for Vodafone by Sagentia

Spin-outs

Sagentia created many spin-out companies over the years, including:

  • CMR - listed on AIM, CMR Fuel Cells develop fuel cell 'stacks' for portable and small stationary power generation applications.
  • Sphere Medical Holdings- Sphere Medical develop products that help raise the standard of critical care around the world.
  • Intrasonics Ltd - mobile–TV interactivity
  • TurfTrax Ltd - listed on AIM, originate and distribute data and data products to enhance horse racing, and the products of the associated betting industry and media suppliers, world wide.
  • Sensopad - works with a unique sensing and identification technology.

In 2008 the company announced a change in direction moving away from venturing and focusing on the core consulting business.