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TECHNOLOGY FIRM POISED FOR LIFT-OFF

Aberdeen technology company 4i2i has won a contract with NASA which will enable DVD-quality video pictures to be transmitted from outer space.

4i2i, a pioneer in video-coding technology with a client base which includes many household names, 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 CEO and managing director Martyn Riley.

"Video coding has now overtaken modems as the major part of our 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."

The new contract with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, based in Pasadena California , is 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 website, 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," says Riley.

"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 million 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."

4i2i 's key technology areas are video coding, error correction coding and broadband modems with applications which include desktop video conferencing, video mobile phones, digital cameras and CCTV.

Click here to visit the website of 4i2i.