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A start up created by graduates of the University of Surrey has won a major grant from the Technology Strategy Board to advance a participatory sensing system for the healthcare sector.

The TSB funding brings the total amount raised by Thoughtified to £94,000. The SETsquared start up will use the investment to bring to market its web and smartphone hybrid system, which it claims will enable significant cost savings for the NHS through improved utilisation of resources.

Thoughtified founders, Aaron Mason and Georgios Michalakidis, believe it will also reduce the inefficiencies typically incurred in the treatment of patients at home. Mason commented: "We are delighted to have won this grant, which recognises how our proposed system will meet a defined need within the NHS for better maintenance of patient records, saving them time and money."

Keith Robson, director of research and enterprise support at the University of Surrey and chairman of the SETsquared partnership, added: "I am delighted that the entrepreneurial efforts of Thoughtified have been supported by the TSB to help them in this important work. SETsquared and the University seek to help student enterprise through our research park and the SETsquared business support network and Georgios and Aaron have set high standards in launching what is potentially a very successful business."

Based in Surrey Research Park, Thoughtified earlier this year won the SETsquared Best Graduate Start-Up Award in recognition of ManagePlaces, a remote asset management solution that uses cloud technology and real time spatial information to help people in their work. Georgios and Aaron are set to begin their latest project in October.

Thoughtified Ltd has produced ManagePlaces, a Web Application in the Cloud that uses geolocation information (GPS) to remotely manage land, projects, customers or any type of asset, with access from any device (laptops, tablets, mobile phones with or without an internet connection). ManagePlaces saves staff costs, resources and time, and improves outputs and reporting. ManagePlaces has generated huge interest operating as a social enterprise focusing on applying its cutting edge technology to improve health services and biodiversity protection. Government agency Natural England quickly recognised its potential for the management of biodiverse sites.

It has given advice and feedback for extending the need, particularly for UK Wildlife Trusts, and introduced requirements for the development of this unique, easy to use, secure system.

The prototype was funded with grants from the University of Surrey, EPSRC and SEEDA. Discussions are underway with the National Farmers' Union for the use of ManagePlaces by farmers claiming DEFRA environmental subsidies.

As a result of targeted marketing, Aggregate Industries Plc. has asked for the software to be integrated with their system. The Company is working with Central Surrey Health (CSH) to adapt the product to manage home care visits by its 200 nurses. CSH identify that the system will save time and money. As part of its social enterprise activities the Company is researching the use of its technology in foetal heart monitoring in Ethiopia.