Nature field guides have been published in book form for years, but who wants to lug around all that weight on a long trek? Thanks to two micro-companies brought together by the Enterprise Europe Network, there is now a new range of ecology-based applications for iPhones and iPads.

The innovation is the brainchild of Mark Haley, a British software developer with an environmental biology degree based in Bath. To find specialised content providers for his company, called Isoperla, he turned to the Enterprise Europe Network, whose close to 600 partner organisations in 50 countries match SMEs with technology and commercial partners.

“We had developed an interesting product,” says Haley, “but needed help taking it to the next level.”

The Network team at Enterprise Europe Southwest in Bristol got straight to work. “We entered the request into the Network’s powerful technology transfer database, one of many tools we use to help businesses grow internationally,” says innovation team manager Paul O’Collins.

Meanwhile in Germany Sabrina Wodrich from the North Rhine-Westphalia Network partner ZENIT flagged the entry to Sunbird TV, a three-person science-focused media consultancy based in Wülfrath. “I know the company inside out and immediately passed along the information.”

The companies agreed to develop several apps starting with TreeID, with Sunbird furnishing text and photographs. It helps users identify species by asking questions and then provides a list of ranked options similar to a Google Search. The application has reached number three in the iTunes Education chart.

“We look forward to working with our new business partner and with the Network for many years,” says Sunbird co-founder Georg Pohland.