Scouting support that comes with your Universe software
Your knowledge, guided by Findest, for more productive R&D
The early phase of any R&D project is where the biggest decisions happen and where the most human capital is spent, and the most effort is lost. When you start with the Universe, our technology scouts work alongside your team to make sure you see the complete solution landscape before committing resources to solving an R&D challenge. This support is included in your software licence.
1,400
Innovations developed
150,000
Hours saved
88%
Customers recommend
3,000
R&D projects completed
Your R&D challenge drives the process. Our scouts make sure nothing gets missed.
Most R&D projects begin with an intention that needs sharpening before real work can begin. Our scouts use a proven method from functional design thinking and TRIZ to shape that intention into something precise living inside the Universe, where your team can see every step. After 3,000+ projects, this structure has become instinctive for our team.
Your knowledge shapes the problem
Every project starts with what your team already knows: their experience, existing projects, constraints, internal context. We use that knowledge to define the R&D challenge in clear, functional terms.
When the question is right, everything that follows becomes faster and easier to decide.
A method that removes friction and doubt
The scouting method comes from TRIZ and functional design thinking, ideas R&D teams already know and trust. Our team has applied this method thousands of times across different fields. That repetition sharpens judgement and keeps teams aligned, avoiding the re-scoping that slows early-stage R&D.
Everything lives in your Universe
Every piece of research lives in the same software workspace. Papers, patents, reports, and internal documents are linked back to the challenge. Your team can follow how the work was shaped, why certain paths were ruled out, and how evidence supports each conclusion. When the scouting project finishes, the workspace lives on & is ready for your team to build on independently.
How scouting support works
Your team is the hero of every R&D project. Our scouts are the guide making sure that you see the full picture before you commit resources.
Scope definition
We break down your challenge into clear technical functions. Using scoping expertise from 3,000+ projects, our scouts make sure the right questions are asked before any searching begins.
Step 1/4
Complete technology overview
Our scouts use both AI and human expertise to map your complete solution space. We identify 30–90 relevant technologies and provide initial scientific validation for each.
Step 2/4
Intelligence deep-dive
You select the most promising technologies, and we dive into technical specifications, KPIs, and real-world applications. This focused analysis helps validate your choices with evidence.
Step 3/4
The Universe
At the end of a project, everything lives in your Universe. Your team has the insights, the evidence, and the software to keep going, add research, and build on what was found.
Step 4/4
Frequently asked questions
The instinct of humans, and the power of AI.
Findest is the ally to your R&D team.
Findest projects typically run in units:
- Technology Overview Unit: Days to weeks for initial landscape mapping
- Technology Intelligence Unit: Additional weeks for deep-dive analysis and shortlisting
- Complete projects: Generally, significantly faster than traditional approaches
The exact timeline depends on project complexity, and how many scouting units are included in the project, but Findest consistently reduces research duration from 6+ months to approximately 1 to 2 months. All depending on project complexity.
Technology Scouting Service deliverables:
- Technology landscape overviews (30-90 relevant technologies)
- Shortlisted highest-potential technologies with technical KPI extraction
- Competitive intelligence and supplier deep dives
- Partner search and technology deep-dive reports
Universe Platform access:
- Digital repository of all findings and insights
- IGOR^AI for continued technology intelligence
- Collaboration tools for team decision-making
- Integration capabilities with existing systems
Findest's Jobs-to-be-Done methodology (refined through 3,000+ projects) ensures comprehensive coverage:
- Functional search approach: Focuses on the core function needed rather than specific technologies
- Cross-industry exploration: Systematically searches across disciplines and sectors
- Science-first foundation: Starts with scientific literature before moving to suppliers
- Human expertise: PhD-level scouts with domain knowledge guide the process
This approach reveals solutions from unexpected industries that traditional methods miss.
- Universe platform access continues for ongoing research and collaboration, up to 6 months
- Customer success management provides software training should you purchase licenses after the project is completed
- Knowledge preservation: All insights remain accessible in your digital knowledge repository for a period
Traditional consulting typically:
- Provides final reports that sit on shelves (or in excels buried in company knowledge bases)
- Focuses on immediate recommendations
- Limited post-project support
Findest provides:
- Living knowledge platform that continues generating value the more it is used
- Training so teams can apply the approach independently
- Human-AI hybrid that combines domain expertise with AI capabilities
- Comprehensive landscape view before committing to any solution path
- Cross-industry insights that pure industry consultants miss
The key difference is Findest builds lasting capability within your organisation rather than delivering one-time recommendations.
Work smarter with the Jobs-to-be-Done method for R&D projects
From R&D teams mapping their first technology landscape to global enterprises managing complex innovation portfolios, Findest uniquely combines your domain expertise, our scouts' experience from 3000+ projects, and advanced AI to transform how you discover and evaluate solutions.
Your knowledge is key
R&D teams know their domain best. Our approach starts with your expertise, integrating your deep understanding of the challenge and industry context to make sure we get to relevant, implementable solutions.
Intuition from experience
Having already been involved in 3000+ projects across 400+ companies, our scouts spot promising paths faster. Our project-tested insights ensure you explore complete solution spaces, not just obvious ones.
AI accelerates discovery
IGOR^AI and the Universe platform build on human intelligence by processing vast amounts of scientific literature and patents in minutes. This combination of machine speed and human judgment means better solutions, found faster.
From 'best guess' R&D to evidence-based innovation
Our platform saves and retrieves information easily, while you're deep in research.
Get a fresh perspective on your R&D challenge
Our scouts have seen thousands of R&D challenges across every industry. Share yours and get insights that might change how you approach the problem.
What to expect:
R&D teams trust us:
3,000
+
Completed projects
400
+
Companies served
88
%
Recommendation rate