Automatic document processingCopy Link

Background

As part of critical daily operations the organisation has a need to access a large number of legal and/or policy documents. Currently this is done using a standard electronic form on which people are asked to complete a combination of tick boxes and free text to demonstrate their compliance.  

Across the business there are a number of teams who then need to review these standard forms in order to confirm compliance. At this time the process is done manually, requiring an individual to read through the forms and supporting text to enable them to confirm compliance (or not). 

As there may be 200 or more access requests to check per day, there is often a queue for a suitable person to review them. Therefore, the client is looking for an automated process to review documents, highlight areas of potential non-compliance and then prioritise them based on a confidence of compliance/non-compliance for a person to review and sign off.

Rationale:

1. Increased accuracy, reducing re-work
2. Reduction in time spent checking documents
3. Wider opportunities for other cross-company standard input systems 

The challenge owner is actively looking for solutions that will;

1. Automatically review and check standard electronic forms
2. Derive information from documents rather than just ‘pattern match’
3. Work as a stand alone system but with options for integration
4. Result in a confidence level or priority rating for human approval

Whilst not limiting the technologies from solution providers, it is expected that solutions would consider innovations from some of the following areas:  

• Linguistics experts
• Computational linguistics
• Education or exam systems creators
• Legal document software providers
• Machine learning innovators
• AI software providers
• Natural language processing experts

The challenge owner will not consider solutions that involve: 

• Systems reliant only on pre-selected keywords

Rewards and benefits

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to the Challenger. The package may also include:

• Support from the Catapult networks and the KTN
• Support in the development of a prototype or pilot 
• Technical support

• Invitation to attend or present at KTN or Catapult events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.

Functional requirements

• An automated document review package
• Able to handle a large number of electronic documents: over 200 per day
• To provide a confidence level which allows a person more rapidly to identify probably-compliant requests that they can quickly approve, or probably non-compliant requests which can be rejected or reviewed.

Technical characteristics

• Must be able to work with documents in a wide variety of formats
• May use natural language processing, artificial intelligence or machine learning, but the client is open to other, innovative approaches
• To be able to truly analyse documents rather than just understand them. 
• Can be stand alone but must be able to interact with other software/programmes. e.g. Word, Excel, Sharepoint

Operating conditions

• Office environment
• Capable of being deployed across multiple locations
• The client can provide a background database if required

Deployment timescale

• Launch of the Competition: 11th of May 2020
• Deadline for applications: 10th of July 2020
• Selection and notification of finalists: 24th of July 2020
• There is need for this solution as soon as possible, however, for the right solution or offering they are happy to work with an early stage innovator or concept stage demonstrator

Cost requirement and market opportunity

• Costs will be proportional to deployability
• For the right product, the solution could be used across the clients portfolio and wider
• This challenge offers a multi year development opportunity for the right solution

Eligibility and assessment criteria

Entrants to this competition must be:

• Established businesses, startups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs
• UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the topic
• Innovative nature of the subject
• Coherence of the proposed business model
• Feasibility/ economic viability
• Development potential
• Maturity of project/solution
• Ability to launch project quickly/Ease of implementation
• Price/quality ratio
• Suitability for the UK and European Market

IP and potential commercial route

• Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Any commercial deployment of transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger.
• Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Innovation Challenger. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP be not disclosed, Focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed).
• Innovate UK and KTN do not take any share of IP ownership or enter into commercial venture through the iX programme.