Innovative Bristol firm Interactive Scientific is hoping to gain a foothold in the multi-billion pound Chinese education market after being showcased in Shanghai during Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent visit.
The firm was one of just five chosen to demonstrate their education technology in the Great British Classroom at the British/China Business Summit.
Hosted by the British Educational Supplies Association (BESA), the room highlighted the UK’s education sector as one of the country’s leading sectors for global innovations.
It was highest-profile visit yet for education suppliers to China and the culmination of two years’ worth of work between BESA and the Department for International Trade to strengthen relations with the fast-growing Chinese educational market, which is worth £190bn.
Interactive Scientific’s app Molecules and Me was featured on interactive Promethean screens at the event and highlighted how a simple-but-impactful exploration into the abstract world of atoms and molecules can help students feel more confident discovering the invisible scientific world.
The app allows students of any age to do visualise dynamic atoms and molecules, so allowing them to interact and observe molecules, and connect atoms and molecules to everyday life – contextualising abstract principles so scientific phenomena become meaningful to learners.
Interactive Scientific CEO Becky Sage said: “We were delighted to feature Molecules and Me at the British/China Business summit, positioning us as one of the leading innovative education software companies.
“Exporting incredible STEM education that promotes inclusivity, curiosity and creativity is our priority and we are happy to see that the Prime Minister and her team are championing a paradigm shift in science learning, by including us in the Great British Classroom.”
Molecules and Me is just the tip of Interactive Scientific’s capability. The firm, one of the first cohort of firms taking part in tech giant Oracle’s Bristol-based Startup Cloud Accelerator programme, creates digital products and experiences to enable people to explore the invisible science that underpins human existence.
It is formed from chemists, physicists, artists, computer scientists and educators to make science communication interactive, immersive and engaging.
It is now completing its core product Nano Simbox, an exploratory digital platform that immerses users into the invisible world of world of atoms and molecules and makes the invisible, visible. It will be available to schools for the autumn term.
It has previously developed the critically-acclaimed Danceroom Spectroscopy, an immersive, interactive installation for creative and education environments.
China is the second most popular global market for British education exports, with a surge of interest following the Brexit vote.
As a result, British education suppliers have an unparalleled opportunity to expand into China’s education market, including a growing £14bn EdTech sector.
