Belfast lip-reading tech firm听Liopa听has secured听significant investment.听
The Belfast firm has been backed by听QUBIS,听the听commercialisation听arm of Queen’s University Belfast 鈥� the institution it spun out of –听and Invest NI’s Access to Finance funds听Techstart听NI and Co-Fund II.听
The firm will look to use the funding to bring its听LipRead听and SRAVI products to market.听
LipRead听aims to improve the accuracy of video and media transcriptions.听
SRAVI听is听a communications aid for patients who cannot speak, such as those who have a tracheostomy.听It听provides automated lip reading in a mobile phone app, so people can communicate with healthcare workers, or their friends and family, while they cannot use their voice.听
The product is being听trialled听in a pilot study with the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, led by Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia,听Shondipon听Laha.听
CEO Liam McQuillan said:听“The award will help听Liopa听achieve global impact with our automated lip-reading technology and ensure our continued success as a sustainable high growth tech company in听Northern Ireland.”听
Liopa听was听ranked among Northern Ireland鈥檚听most innovative tech听firms on听老九品茶Cloud’s听Northern Ireland Tech 50.听
Brian McCaul,听CEO听of QUBIS,听added: “We’re always excited to see how the companies we’ve worked with continue to grow and innovate producing cutting–edge research.听
“Liopa听is doing some critical work and using their research to provide solutions in a particularly challenging time. We’re pleased the team are getting the funding they deserve to continue this work.”听
A fortnight ago the firm also听secured funding from Innovate UK.听
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AILip-reading