4i2i, an Aberdeen technology company, takes leap into space after securing deal with NASA

Aberdeen, Scotland – September 14, 2004 –   4i2i, an Aberdeen technology company, has won a contract with NASA which will enable DVD quality video pictures to be transmitted from outer space.

 “This is a new departure for NASA. Our technology will enable astronauts to beam back DVD quality video to earth from cameras fitted to their helmets,” said Martyn Riley, managing director of 4i2i. 

The company is one of the pioneers in video coding technology and provides technology solutions for mass market products, with a client-base which includes many house-hold names. Formed in 1995 by Martyn Riley and his wife Laura, they now employ eleven design engineers at the Aberdeen base, which supplies customers throughout the world including the US, Canada, Germany, Korea and Taiwan.  The company, which was ranked in the Deloitte Scottish Fast 50 in 2002 and 2003, has won the new contract after a complete overhaul of the company’s branding and marketing, which was undertaken with the help of Scottish Enterprise Grampian.

 “As a result of reviewing the market and applications for our technology we’ve re-branded and re-focused our market strategy,” explained Riley. “Video coding has now over taken modems as the major part of the business, as we realised there are currently many more market opportunities within this field. The electronics industry is one of the most competitive markets in the world – but if you have recognised leading edge technology you can make those markets work. For example our MPEG4 video codec, which will be used by NASA, is smaller and faster than anything produced by any other company.”

Martyn Riley said that the new contract with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, based in Pasadena California, is just one of a number of deals the company is expecting to clinch as a result of opening an American office in one of Scottish Development International’s (SDI) incubator units in San Jose. 

“We’ve got an extremely successful web-site, receiving over a million hits a year, but by introducing new ways of reaching our customers, such as having a presence in San Jose, we’re now taking a much more proactive approach.  Although trading conditions in the electronics market in the last year have been very difficult, we’ve managed to buck the trend with more high value contracts than we have ever had in the past. We’re expecting the satellite office to be instrumental in bringing in another $1.2 m USD of business.”  

Colin Donald, director of finance and competitive business at Scottish Enterprise said: “4i2i is an excellent example of the many high-tech companies that are thriving in Grampian, which bring highly qualified, high value expertise to the area. The company is leading the way in its field, and with the refocus of its marketing strategy has successfully positioned itself so that it can now take advantage of the wealth of opportunities available in the international arena.”  

About 4i2i

4i2i Communications Ltd is a leading supplier of semiconductor IP cores and software for video-coding, error correction coding and broadband modems. Founded in 1995, 4i2i's operations are located in Aberdeen, Scotland and San Jose, California. Telephone: +44 1224 712844 (UK) or 408 467 5088 (US). 

About Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development agency for Scotland covering 93 per cent of the population from Grampian to the Borders. The Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish Enterprise and 12 Local Enterprise Companies. Working in partnership with the private and public sectors the Network aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scottish people, and to encourage innovation to make Scottish business internationally competitive.