GraphicsFuzz will launch a security testing tool for graphics drivers to catch potential flaws using a metamorphic approach.
Imperial College London established UK-based spinout GraphicsFuzz yesterday to commercialise software that assesses the reliability of computer graphics drivers.
The spinout was launched by Imperial Innovations, the university’s tech transfer affiliate, and is one of two businesses now established under the Founders Choice pilot, a policy offering academic founders up to 95% equity in exchange for accepting less tech transfer support.
GraphicsFuzz is developing a vulnerability test for graphics drivers, a component of computer operating systems responsible for controlling the graphics and display.
The technology identifies and diagnoses the root cause of potential flaws by using an approach called metamorphic testing, which works by assessing whether test outputs are consistent.
The spinout is based on work by the Multicore Programming Group, led by Alastair Donaldson, a lecturer in the Department of Computing. He co-founded GraphicsFuzz with his PhD research associates, Hugues Evrard and Paul Thomson.
The team received support from government-backed transfer pilot Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (iCure).
Evrard said: “After positive feedback following months of visits and discussions to understand how our technology can fit in the graphics industry, we created GraphicsFuzz.
“We are now looking forward to raising the quality of graphics drivers across the board, not only to ease the job of application developers and preserve the reputation of graphics driver vendors, but also to improve the reliability and security of devices that we all use.”
Alessandro Garcia, technology licensing executive at Imperial Innovations, said: “It has been great to see the project develop from an initial iCure startup bootcamp through to successful spinout formation.
“I have been impressed not only with the technology, but also with the team’s dynamism and creativity in their commercial strategy and marketing campaigns. I look forward to seeing GraphicsFuzz progress and make our devices more stable and secure.”