Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme

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Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme
2. Materials technology in Estonia
Lessons learned from the interview
Hard R&D work for more than a decade has now resulted in a product that is commercially competitive
It has been very difficult for the company to secure funding for its operation, especially the production
scale-up phase
There is not enough skilled workforce being educated at Estonian universities – the company has educated
many people themselves
Business developers and scientist should work together to achieve goals.
More information from Taavi Madiberk, CEO, taavi.madiberk@skeletontech.com
Case: Fits.me „Virtual fitting room for online clothing retailers“
Background
The company is a university start-up, launched in 2007. Currently the company employs 18 people but is
expanding quickly. Business idea: Fits.me offers a new „sci-fi“ solution: a robotic mannequin that takes your
body measurements and mimics your shape, so that you can see exactly how clothing would fit you, online.
Launched in June 2010 Fits.me has already shown promising results for clients: One German test-run showed
that the robots increased sales by 300%, while reducing product returns by 28%. Customers include big
retailers like Hawes&Curtis.
How does it work?
Fits.me provides a fitting room service for internet clothing retailers. The retailer realizes two main benefits:
Returns of ill-fitting products will be reduced significantly, decreasing costs and increasing profits;
Sales to previously insecure customers increase revenues, especially at the higher product price points.
After the customer has entered his body measurements, he can see
the fit of a clothing item – just like a real-life fitting room. The robotic
mannequins are used to mimic the shape and size of the customer and
show the customer photos of the mannequin wearing different sizes of
clothing. Fits.me can show the true fit with real-life photos of the clothing
as it looks on the customers’ body.
Where is the materials technology?
Fits.me mannequin brings together competences from diverse
fields ranging from apparel design and anthropometrics to IT, robotics and mechanics. Application of smartskin
(sensitiive to garment pressure) technology is in development phase. The base technology was largely
developed by the research partners at Tartu University – Laboratory of Intelligent Materials and Systems
(Estonia), Tallinn Technical University – Centre of Biorobotics (Estonia) and Human Solutions GmbH – the leading
provider of anthropometrical data (Germany).
Currently, the technical development is led by Prof. Alvo Aabloo, heading the Intelligent Materials and
Systems Laboratory of Institute of Technology at University of Tartu, and Dr. Maarja Kruusmaa, heading the
Center of Biorobotics at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia. Current research projects of Professor Aabloo
include e.g. development of artificial muscles.
University-Company collaboration
Fits.me buys contract research from the universities where the technology was developed to further develop
the mannequin. Product development also includes e.g creating a woman mannequin.
Lessons learned/key success factors from the interview
It took years of fundamental research and 3,5 years of product development before the company could
be launced.
Contact and more information: Alvo Aabloo, alvo.aabloo@ut.ee, http://www.fits.me, http://www.ims.ut.ee