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Interface, the business-academic innovation support organisation, has welcomed two new members to its Strategic Board.

John Whaling, Lead Officer for Innovation & Commercialisation at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and Sam Myers, Head of Investment Strategy at UK Research and Innovation bring extensive expertise in driving regional growth, economic development, and innovation strategy.  

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of Scotland’s Rural College and Chair of Interface Strategic Board, said: “We are delighted to welcome John and Sam to the Strategic Board, where their knowledge and new perspectives will be an excellent asset. This is an exciting time for the Board to build on Interface’s strong foundations and support its ambition to drive inclusive innovation to enhance Scotland’s competitiveness by fostering strong, collaborative partnerships between academia and industry.”

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, said: “I am pleased to strengthen our board with these appointments. Sam brings a national and international lens through his work at UKRI and across government, combining investment strategy, policy insight, and global experience. John’s leadership in shaping one of the UK’s most ambitious place-based innovation ecosystems, and his strength in forging impactful public-private-academic partnerships, will be invaluable as we navigate complex innovation landscapes and scale Interface’s impact across Scotland.”

Full details of the Interface Strategic Board can be found here: Our Board | Interface Online

Biographies

John Whaling, Lead Officer for Innovation & Commercialisation, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

John Whaling is a collaborative place leader with over 25 years’ experience of pioneering economic development and “making things happen” at the interface between public, private, and higher education sectors.  

For the last 10 years, John has been convening and championing all aspects of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCR) innovation agenda and ecosystem, latterly as the Combined Authority’s Lead Officer for Innovation & Commercialisation. His primary role is to catalyse partnerships, policies, and programmes that maximise the LCR’s distinctive, world-leading assets and capabilities, in order to drive transformational regional/national economic growth and solve intractable local challenges. The LCR is now at the forefront of UK place-based innovation, with innovation a primary Mayoral priority.  

He previously worked at the LCR Local Enterprise Partnership, Liverpool Vision, and St. Helens Council, where he led a series of successful programmes that included a national City Growth Strategy pilot, plus delivery of the landmark, multi-award-winning 20m Dream sculpture by Jaume Plensa overlooking the M62, commissioned by ex-miners as part of Channel 4’s “Big Art Project”.  

Prior to local government, John spent 2 years working for the European Commission in Brussels, has also lived/worked in Germany, the USA, and Canada, grew up in Edinburgh, and speaks German and French.  

In a voluntary capacity he is Chair of Future Yard CIC, whose mission is to positively transform both Birkenhead and the nature of what a UK grassroots music venue does, based on the founding principle that music can change the world.

Sam Myers, Head of Investment Strategy, UK Research and Innovation

Sam works for UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), the UK’s largest public research and innovation agency, leading on investment strategy. UKRI invests nearly £9bn per year in a diverse portfolio of people and careers, places and infrastructure, ideas and innovation; Sam’s team works to maximise the value of these investments. 

Previously Sam worked at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Singapore, where he was responsible for the trade and investment relationship between ASEAN and the UK. Before joining DBT, Sam worked for the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, where he established the UK Science Policy and Relations function. 

Sam’s Civil Service career began in 2001 as a graduate FastStreamer in the Department for Trade and Industry, where he ran a Minister’s Private Office before becoming the Head of External Relations for the Department. He spent 6 years in Asia with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, boosting science and technology partnerships with Southeast Asia and China. 

Sam’s structural biology research at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, was published in the journal Science and he has a Masters in Biochemistry from the University of Bath.

Image above shows John Whaling, left, and Sam Myers.

A new £9m virtual production studio will drive research, innovation and economic growth in Scotland’s screen, games, immersive and performance industries.

Abertay University launched the CoSTAR Realtime Lab at Water’s Edge, Dundee on Tuesday 18 February marking the start of operations for a major infrastructure project that will provide a significant boost to Scotland’s screen industries. This cutting-edge programme will bring new opportunities and expert support to UK creative and technology companies working across the breadth of the creative industries.

The CoSTAR Network represents the largest investment in Creative Industries R&D to date with a £75.6M grant awarded by the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab is led by Abertay University and the total project investment is £9m operated in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, CodeBase, Interface and Chroma Developments.

Creative companies from across the UK and beyond will have the opportunity to work with the CoSTAR Realtime Lab, benefitting from state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facilities and access to industry experts and academic researchers.

The studio at Chroma Developments’ Water’s Edge in Dundee marks the beginning of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab’s work, with a further studio led by the University of Edinburgh to open at First Stage Studios in Edinburgh in March 2025. The facilities will be connected through the Realtime Cloud Lab supporting remote access and collaboration from anywhere in the world.

Virtual production—a cinematography technique that employs computer-generated imagery (CGI), augmented reality, and motion capture to create immersive virtual film, game and performance sets – will be at the heart of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab’s work and represents a significant opportunity for creative companies working with real time technologies.

Researchers will support industry-led projects to generate new products and processes to improve production pipelines including, 3D environments and video processing, performance and motion capture, facial animation, automated speech and dynamic generation of hyper-realistic digital film sets and many others. The CoSTAR Realtime Lab’s work will also look at ways to enhance spectator experiences at concerts, live events and museums and how immersive technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can be better used and integrated.

Blending Abertay University’s internationally renowned expertise in video games and technology with the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading AI, animation and film capabilities, the partnership will build transformative new processes, pipelines, tools and workflows to help companies grow, while de-risking opportunities to diversify and take on new projects and clients.

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab will create opportunities for Scotland’s screen innovators to access next generation production technologies and support them to apply their creativity, skills and expertise to create new technologies, design new experiences and establish new markets. Access will be offered through a series of open programmes, giving companies and creatives the opportunity to test, develop and refine their ideas.

One of the main programmes is the Realtime TEST Lab, which offers creative companies, creatives and innovators access to resources to experiment with virtual production and creative technologies in content production or software development before committing further investment in their final productions. The Realtime TEST Lab is supported with funding from Screen Scotland.

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab will also offer support through Collaborative R&D – a way of working in partnership that can be activated by companies, individuals and project staff in conversation with the CoSTAR Realtime Lab. Scale-up and start-up training and support will also be provided by CodeBase through its Techscaler programme.

Further CoSTAR Network programmes include the Pilots and Prototypes Programme (PPP), a £3.6 million fund for UK companies to develop new ideas by accessing technical and research capabilities, and the Enterprise and Commercial programme (E&C) supporting the growth of highly capable, inclusive, and sustainable creative technology businesses.

In addition to its main partners, CoSTAR Realtime Lab is supported by Screen Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia and VSS-Scotland.

For more information visit https://www.costarnetwork.co.uk/ or follow @costarnetwork.

Full information and funding calls can be found online: Access Programmes | CoSTAR

Professor Gregor White, Director of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab said: “With the technologies that power our screen-based experiences in film, games and performance rapidly converging there’s an opportunity for companies working in these sectors to diversify their offer, explore new markets and push the boundaries of what was previously thought possible in their sectors. Bringing together international-quality academic researchers with industry experience and enterprise support, CoSTAR Realtime Lab is a truly collaborative project which will break down barriers for the Scottish creative industries, encourage entrepreneurship and experimentation, and provide a space where innovation can flourish.”

Professor Melissa Terras MBE, Edinburgh College of Art, Co-director of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab said: “Scotland has vibrant creative industries, with world-leading activity in festivals, film/TV, music, heritage, and games in particular. Building a bridge between creatives and technologists will allow us to support the development of new products and services, while also ensuring that we are encouraging diverse access to cutting edge facilities, which will then produce diverse outputs. The partnership behind CoSTAR Realtime Lab is expertly placed to deliver this exciting innovation vehicle to support our creative communities”.

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said: “The CoSTAR Realtime Lab will build on the strong foundations of Scotland’s gaming cluster, bringing together next generation production technologies, the latest in video game development, and AI and machine learning, to support innovators in the creation of new technologies, experiences, and markets. As part of the CoSTAR network it will play a key role in ensuring that the UK’s creative industries act as a key driver of growth as identified in the government’s industrial strategy. It is by strategically investing in the industries of the future that AHRC shows how arts and humanities research drives innovation and growth in a 21st century economy.”

Chris van der Kuyl CBE, FRSE, Chairman, 4J Studios said: “I’ve always believed in Dundee’s potential as a global leader in technology and digital innovation. That’s why we’ve invested in spaces like Water’s Edge to provide a collaborative infrastructure for the next generation of creators and companies to thrive. The launch of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab is a major step in that journey, bringing cutting-edge virtual production technology to Dundee and securing its position at the forefront of real-time content creation. This is a huge opportunity for Scotland’s screen industries, and I’m incredibly proud to support it.”

UK Government Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This project is beyond exciting – the possibilities it creates for the entertainment industry are endless. The UK Government’s investment in cutting-edge initiatives like this is central to our Plan for Change to create the jobs and opportunities that will raise living standards right across the UK.

“It’s a tremendous feather in the cap of Brand Scotland too, demonstrating to the world that Dundee and Scotland is a centre of excellence for the screen and gaming industries as we push into new markets and further strengthen the sector. I wish the team at Abertay University every success with the opening of the new facility.”

Stephen Coleman OBE, CEO & Co-Founder of CodeBase said: “Supporting the CoSTAR Realtime Lab is another great opportunity for CodeBase to play our part as a Scottish ecosystem builder and a champion of tech-driven enterprise and entrepreneurship. We are always looking for new ways to collaborate with specialists in different technology domains and to leverage our delivery of Techscaler, Scotland’s national tech backbone for the benefit of the ecosystem as a whole, building on Scotland’s unique strengths in talent, research, and innovation.“

Howell Davies, Head of Strategic Funding and Programmes at Interface, said: “CoSTAR’s Realtime Lab is a game-changer for industry seeking to harness the power of real-time technologies. With access to cutting-edge tools, a deep and diverse pool of expertise and talent with a support system for organisations to empower them to innovate and create groundbreaking experiences, it will create significant impact and legacy for the UK’s creative industry and wider.”

Councillor Mark Flynn, Leader of Dundee City Council said: “Dundee has a long history of being at the forefront of technology and innovation for the creative industries and it is wonderful to see the CoSTAR Realtime Lab and its virtual production studio being added to the city’s digital cluster. The video games, screen and performance industries already make a significant contribution to Dundee’s economic and cultural success and collaborative projects like this, supported by both academia and business, are important for the continued growth and future of the sector.”

Revolutionary developments in renewable energy, mental health, education, sport, medicine and food and drink have made it to the finals of the 10th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards highlighting the diversity of sectors and disciplines thriving in Scotland.

With 32 individuals, teams and projects shortlisted across 10 categories, the 10th anniversary celebration will be the largest to date.

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, which organises the Awards, said: “At Interface, we are proud to deliver the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards on behalf of Scotland’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. These awards are more than just a celebration of achievements—they showcase the transformative power of collaboration between academia and industry. Each finalist represents the spirit of partnership, driving solutions that create lasting economic, environmental, and social impact. As we mark the 10th anniversary of these awards, we are inspired by the breadth and depth of innovation thriving across Scotland, reaffirming our commitment to fostering connections that unlock new opportunities and strengthen Scotland’s future.”

The awards ceremony will take place at Edinburgh Futures Institute on 19th March.

The finalists are:

Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Ltd

Highland Heat Harvesters Ltd and Robert Gordon University

SolarSub Ltd, Heriot-Watt University and the University of Strathclyde

SymphoMe Ltd and the University of Stirling

Innovator of the Future – sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Dr Dayi Zhang – Inspectahire Instruments Company Ltd and the University of Strathclyde

Matthew Gibson – Ailsa Reliability Solutions Ltd and the University of Strathclyde

Dr Sonam Norbu – The Crichton Trust and the University of Glasgow

Inward Investment Impact – sponsored by International Social Enterprise Observatory

Canon Medical Research Europe and the University of Edinburgh

Smartify and the University of the West of Scotland

ZIYX and the University of the West of Scotland

Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by Knowledge Exchange UK

Dr Andrea Rodriguez, the University of Dundee

Dr Bryan McCann, Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor John Bachtler, the University of Strathclyde

Knowledge Exchange Heroes – team and individual – sponsored by Azets Ltd

Individual

Kevin McIver, Heriot-Watt University

Dr Kirsty Ross, the University of St Andrews

Susan Armstrong, Glasgow Caledonian University

Team

Scottish Centre for Food Development Innovation, Queen Margaret University

Formulation Unit, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, the University of Strathclyde

Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, the University of Dundee

Making a Social Difference

Enable and Edinburgh Napier University

Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) and Glasgow Caledonian University

Sport Aberdeen and Glasgow Caledonian University

Making an Environmental Difference

Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE and the University of Dundee

National Trust for Scotland and the University of the Highlands & Islands

Renewable Parts Ltd and the University of Strathclyde

Multiparty Collaboration

INTErPRET-NAFLD – Bering Limited, HistoIndex, BioDev, Precision Medicine Scotland and the University of Edinburgh

Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) – Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, the University of Dundee, Robert Gordon University and over 170 medical device companies

Underwater Intervention for Offshore Renewable Energies (UNITE) – Heriot-Watt University, Imperial College London, Frontier Robotics, Fugro

Place-based Impact sponsored by Business Gateway

Digital Dairy Chain – Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the University of Strathclyde, the University of the West of Scotland, First Milk, Lactalis, NMR, SmartSTEMs, Kendal Nutricare, CENSIS and Cows & Co

Control of Sheep Scab – Moredun Research Institute, Lewis and Harris Sheep Producers Association, The Old Mill Veterinary Practice, Scottish Government, The Crofters of Lewis & Harris, Lewis Crofters, Neil Fell Mobile Dipping Ltd, Zoetis Animal Health Ltd and Bimeda Ltd

Powerful Partnership sponsored by Skillfluence

BAE Systems and the University of Strathclyde

Safehinge Primera and Glasgow Caledonian University  

Vertebrate Antibodies-EpitogenX Ltd and the University of Aberdeen

Read more about the projects here: The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards | Interface Online

Join the conversation on X at #SKEAwards and LinkedIn at @Interface.

Photo above shows the shortlisted Knowledge Exchange Champions, from left Dr Andrea Rodriguez, the University of Dundee, Dr Bryan McCann, Glasgow Caledonian University and Professor John Bachtler, the University of Strathclyde.

The latest round of the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund (IICF) has awarded three projects up to £10,000 each. The fund, supported by Interface and the Scottish Government, attracts investment through R&D with Scottish universities.

The projects awarded are:

Development of a lithium titanate oxide battery by Titanvolt and University of St Andrews. The pouch cell battery, which has no fire risk, is more energy efficient and 95% recyclable, has been produced by Grinergy, a leading South Korean battery manufacturer and brought to the market by North East England based Titanvolt. While the technology has gone through extensive testing. they will test and validate for the UK market and support product development with the intention to develop battery manufacturing facilities in Scotland in the future.

Australian healthtech company Oraid Solutions is working with the University of Strathclyde to develop a low-powered, high-frequency microphone for hearing aids to improve sound clarity and speech recognition in noisy environments. This innovation doubles frequency capture, minimises battery use, and enhances noise cancelling capabilities.

Masterisk Ltd, a software company based in England, has developed RASBOX, a risk quantification solution to help financial services organisations quantify and manage their non-financial risk exposures. The collaboration with the University of Strathclyde will involve research and development into risk modelling to develop the product’s capability of processing risk data into valuable business information.

The fund, set up by Interface and the Scottish Government attracts companies from out with Scotland to collaborate with Scottish academics, creating opportunities and growing the economy.  To date, the fund has awarded 34 projects up to £10k in opportunity areas for Scotland such as energy transition, health tech and decarbonisation of transport.

Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, said: “Attracting inward investment drives economic growth and prosperity across Scotland. The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund helps build early-stage partnerships between potential investors and Scotland’s world-renowned academia to develop these opportunities.

“The fund is supporting high quality and innovative projects and laying strong foundations to help potential investors consider Scotland as a destination for their business.”

Howell Davies, Interface’s Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding, added: “The specific nature of the projects being funded through the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund demonstrate the strength and depth we have in a range of academic disciplines, where Scotland is seen as a destination to access facilities and expertise and is a key factor when considering inward investment here.”

Pictured above, Business Minister Richard Lochhead. Video below shows the Colin Vincent Centre for Battery Technology at University of St Andrews, the collaboration partner of Titanvolt.

Scotland’s premier knowledge exchange awards launch today, celebrating 10 years of exceptional, inspiring and ground-breaking business-academic people and partnerships.

The awards will be the biggest yet with two new categories, bringing the total number of categories to 10.

We’re excited to reconnect with past winners in the lead-up to the awards, sharing spotlights on their journeys and celebrating how they continue to drive innovation forward.

Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, said: “Supported by the Scottish Government, Interface plays an important role connecting businesses to the expertise of our world leading academic institutions, helping drive economic growth.

“These annual awards, commendably in their 10th year, are an opportunity to highlight important success stories and put the spotlight on Scotland’s entrepreneurial and research excellence.”

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, which organises the annual awards, said: “This is a significant year for the awards, and we are planning a special celebration in March. The introduction of two new categories, Place-based Impact and Inward Investment Impact, reflects the growing range of collaborations between businesses and academia. We are pleased with how the awards are evolving, firmly establishing themselves as a valued platform for celebrating knowledge exchange. I encourage everyone from both business and academia to enter.”

The 10 awards categories are:

The deadline for applications is 5pm, Thursday 12th December, 2024. The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards will take place in March 2025.

Click here for our helpful entry toolkit and application forms.

Photo above shows the Interface team launching the 10th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards. Photo by Glen Rutter.

Two alternative protein ventures and an educational digital children’s game about business, are some of the research and development projects awarded funding through the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund (IICF).

The fund was set up by Interface and Scottish Government to attract companies from outwith Scotland to collaborate with Scottish academic institutions to create future opportunities in R&D and manufacturing and grow the economy.  IICF has awarded just under £60k to six projects involving universities and a college.

Business Minister, Richard Lochhead, said: “Scotland is open for business and we are committed to attracting further overseas investment to help boost economic growth.

“Scotland remains the UK’s top location for inward investment outside of London and our world-class universities and academia have a vital role to play in helping attract potential inward investors to Scotland. The latest round of the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has attracted an array of innovative projects, aligned with the Inward Investment Plan. The funding, backed by the Scottish Government, is an important tool in driving close collaborations and early development to kick-start new growth. I strongly encourage all interested businesses with innovative projects to apply for the next round of funding.”

Howell Davies, Interface’s Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding, said: “The catalyst funding is a valuable way to kickstart relationships and develop R&D activity in Scotland with the intention of leading to longer term impacts and economic growth in priority areas such as decarbonisation of transport, software and IT, and food and drink innovation.  I would encourage other companies interested in investing in Scotland to use the fund to access the world-class research base we have here on our doorstep.”

The projects were each awarded up to £10,000. They are:

AlgiSys UK Ltd and the University of Stirling’s project aims to determine the viability of a fermented algae-derived feed ingredient as a source of omega-3s and marine plant protein in aquaculture. The findings of this study hold promise in advancing sustainable aquafeed practices, reducing the dependence of Scottish aquaculture and salmon farming on fish oil and fishmeal.

University of Edinburgh have teamed up with Aquallite Data Ltd to develop seafloor data integration software to enable the production of data models of the ocean floor to help de-risk offshore wind development and accelerate progress to a more sustainable future.

Fermentation Technologies Ltd and Abertay University have developed a lab-based system for the production of a valuable and nutritious protein ingredient by upcycling spent grains from breweries and distilleries. The product has been successfully tested with several large food companies and is preparing for pilot-scale production. The funding will allow for a technical viability feasibility study.

Gruppo Sismica are working with the University of Strathclyde on a project to pave the way for the use of HiStrA Bridges, the software developed by Gruppo Sismica, for the assessment of masonry arch bridges in Scotland and the rest of UK.

Edinburgh College and Vaste Technologies are collaborating to develop a ground-breaking digital platform that connects biomass suppliers directly with bioenergy producers, streamlining market access and improving transaction efficiency. The platform will also verify the sustainability credentials of biomass feedstocks and monitor carbon emissions throughout the entire lifecycle, from procurement to distribution and use.

ZIYX and the University of the West of Scotland will develop an early-stage proof of concept for educational games to teach young people about starting a business. The games will be integrated within a mobile platform that is currently being developed by the company. The aim of these games will be to enhance social mobility by making education on business subjects more accessible.

The next round of the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund is now open inviting companies outwith Scotland to collaborate with Scottish universities, colleges, research institutes and innovation centres. Details of the fund can be found here. The deadline for application is 15 November, 2024.

Scottish Enterprise and Interface have announced £250,000 funding for research and development collaborations to create new products, processes and services.

The Advanced Innovation Vouchers are aimed at building sustained relationships between business and academia. They are open to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland and are awarded on a sliding scale with the business match funding the award up to £20k.

Since 2011, the Advanced Innovation Voucher programme has awarded £1.77m for 143 business-academic projects.

Paul Cross, Innovation Team Leader at Scottish Enterprise, said: “We are really pleased to invest in this funding which will enable businesses to create impacts as they innovate and scale whilst deepening their relationships with academics”

Laura Goodfellow, Associate Director of Business Engagement and Systems at Interface said: “Interface encourages universities and colleges across Scotland to collaborate with SMEs on groundbreaking products, processes, and services. This funding provides a significant opportunity for businesses aiming to scale their innovative projects—whether building on a successful partnership or launching a new venture. Interface is here to help businesses connect with the academic expertise that can drive their ideas forward.”

The initial deadline for applications is 27th September 2024, with subsequent deadlines on 31st October and 29th November, 2024.

Further information on application criteria can be found here.

Photo shows Laura Goodfellow of Interface.

By Suzy Powell, Interface

Do you know your prozymes from your prebiotics?

The health of our gut is a complicated business, and one which has prompted a huge amount of research, leading to the development of new products aimed at everything from increasing fibre intake to balancing hormones.

The science behind developing innovative food and drinks is important – not just from a consumer point of view, but for health benefits claims and legal requirements.

Collaborating with academic experts is often a key element of a business’s strategy in creating healthier products.

Several Scottish universities, research institutes and colleges have dedicated departments led by teams of experts focusing on food and drink development with food labs, tasting panels and testing equipment, however expertise can be found throughout Scotland’s institutes.

The team at Interface has more than a gut feeling about where – and how – to find the right expertise to help organisations develop, test and analyse products, with extensive connections and networks to support research and development.

Partnering with Edinburgh Napier University, Moray-based Gut Feelings make small batch production of flavoured Kombucha. Founder, Hannah Taylor, said: “Kombucha is a fermented drink, believed to provide healthy micronutrients and beneficial bacteria which can help to detoxify, aid digestion and strengthen immunity. However, very little research exists which can substantiate these claims.

“I wanted to work with an academic partner, with expertise in food science and microbiology, to establish the bacterial composition of the drink and to undertake an analysis of the product to determine and quantify the antimicrobial effects of the drink on human health.”

One of the academic partners at Edinburgh Napier University, Dr Sophie Foley, added: “The project with Gut Feelings used DNA sequencing technology and data analysis, which the company had found difficult to source commercially, to analyse the microbiome of their produce.

“As they scale up production, the company will be able to use the new information they have gained from analysis, confident that the microbiome is not impacted with alterations to production and that the potential health benefits remain intact with increased volumes.”

One company tackling gluten intolerance is Edinburgh based biotech, Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, which has turned to academic expertise multiple times throughout their innovation journey towards better tasting gluten-safe foods.

They have developed a pioneering method to craft bread and baked goods using a new enzyme technology that degrades gliadin, the protein that causes food sensitivities.

Through Interface, the company have embarked on several research collaborations with Queen Margeret University, Scotland’s Rural College, Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh and Stirling University, to support their development.

The collaboration with University of Edinburgh was so impressive, it won the Innovation of the Year in the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024. The partners developed a pipeline for identification and characterisation of novel gluten-degrading enzymes using mass spectrometry.

South African company Nutrigo, a spin-out from Tshwane University of Technology, secured funding through the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund to partner with Abertay University’s Food Technology Centre of Excellence to develop Niselo, a sorghum- based non-dairy and vegan probiotic enriched drinking yoghurt. Originally developed to fight malnutrition across sub-Saharan Africa, the partners re-imagined, repurposed and repositioned Niselo for an upcoming launch into the UK free-from consumer sector through new Scottish company, BiaGo Ltd in late 2024.  

With a characteristically “sharp and yoghurt like” fresh taste, the UK Niselo vegan probiotic drink contains both African and European gluten free grains (sorghum, millets and /or oats) coupled with precisely cultured probiotic bacteria (lactobacillus spp.) to support “gut health”, digestion and leverage an increasing body of evidence that the diverse flora and fauna within our microbiome strongly influence human health and wellbeing (immune system, digestion etc.). 

Sorghum drinks are new to the UK market and Prof David Katerere, Co-founder of BiaGo Ltd, CEO of Nutrigo SA Pty, said: “Our R&D collaborations with Abertay University have been crucial throughout the proof of concept and pre-launch process for Niselo, especially in understanding the UK consumer need through sensory evaluation and careful product formulation to match against challenging consumer expectation.

“Around 94% of the UK population eats less than the UK government recommended amount of fibre of 30g per adult a day; with additional funding through Interface and the Food and Drink Federation Scotland’s Healthier Products Innovation Fund, a range of new products co-developed with Abertay and fortified with fibre and higher protein levels will come to market in 2025 through BiaGo as the team continues their collaboration with the expertise and first class food and drink facilities within Abertay University.”

These innovative projects were awarded funding through Interface, which manages tailored funding programmes for inward investment, food and drink and innovation, with partners including Scottish Government, Scotland Food and Drink, the Scottish Food and Drink Federation and Scottish Funding Council. To find out more about funding opportunities for research and development please visit our website.

Photo by Greg Macvean shows Prozymi Biolabs Ltd co-founder Ioannis Stasinopoulos and team member Niki Christopoulou at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards earlier this year.

Interface has welcomed new members to its Strategic Board, from business and academic backgrounds, with a focus on supporting business-academic collaborations.

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of Scotland’s Rural College, will succeed Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, who has been Chair of the board since 2018.

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne and Dr Alicia Greated have joined the 11-strong Board, along with Dr Andrea Taylor, from Edinburgh Innovations Ltd, which hosts Interface. 

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Professor Nolan for her exceptional leadership and unwavering support as Chair of the board. Andrea has been a strong champion of Interface’s work, and her stewardship has guided us through some very challenging times, helping us to continue making a significant impact.

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Professor Powell as our new Chair, along with the new board members, who bring a wealth of experience to help guide and shape Interface’s ambition to create meaningful impact for society and the Scottish economy.

“The changes in our Strategic Board reflect Interface’s growing ambition to leverage the collective expertise of academia and industry in Scotland. With the addition of our new members, we are better positioned than ever to support business innovation, regional strategic programmes, and the evolving priorities of our colleges and universities. Their diverse perspectives and deep knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to expand our impact and drive forward Scotland’s innovation agenda.

Professor Wayne Powell added: “As I step into the role of Chair, I am inspired by the transformative journey Interface has undertaken and the strategic vision we have set for the future. Our mission is clear: to drive impactful collaborations between academia and industry, enhancing innovation capabilities across Scotland’s colleges and universities. With business innovation as our strong foundation, we aim to support strategic programmes and facilitate diverse partnerships to maximize our impact. I look forward to working with our exceptional team and partners to build on these successes and firmly establish Interface as a cornerstone of Scotland’s innovation ecosystem.”

Professor Andrea Nolan said: “I have greatly enjoyed my association with Interface over the past seven years. I’ve seen first-hand how Interface has strengthened vital connections between businesses and academia, driving real impact. As I step down as Chair, I am confident Interface will continue to be a key player in Scotland’s future success and prosperity.”

Interface will further strengthen the Strategic Board with a call for new board members opening in the Autumn.

Biographies

Professor Wayne Powell – Chair

Professor Wayne Powell is Principal and Chief Executive of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the UK’s leading agri-food-environment, tertiary education institution.

His previous roles include Chief Science Officer at CGIAR, a global agri-food partnership, Professor & Founding Director of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, and CEO & Director NIAB, Cambridge. He is a Senior Fullbright Scholar and worked for the DuPont Company in the USA.

Wayne has more than 30 years’ experience working in plant genetics and has extensive experience leading organisational and cultural change programmes.
Wayne is a member of Scotland’s Science Advisory Council, Board member of NatureScot and member of the FCDO Research Advisory Group (RAG). Until recently he was a member of both DEFRA and DFID’s Science Advisory Council and Convenor of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee of Universities Scotland. He maintains an active research group and is an elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Dr Andrea Taylor

Andrea is CEO of Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the commercialisation service of the University of Edinburgh. She has worked at EI for 7 years during which time EI has helped the University grow its industrial and translational income from £10m to over £90m and double company launches to 123.

Andrea has secured multimillion pound seed investment from first time investors leading to the creation of several spin outs. She has led numerous commercial and licence deals contributing to the University of Edinburgh rising from 15th to one of the top 5 UK universities for business engagement (HESA HE-BCI Survey).

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne FRSE

Chef, author, and founder of gluten-free pioneers, Genius Foods, Lucinda is Chair of Scotland Food and Drink. She mentors and invests in innovative new food and well-being businesses.  

Appointed as Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence at Edinburgh University in 2018 to 2021, Lucinda continues to support the School of Physics and Astronomy as industry advisor. 

Dr Alicia Greated

Dr Alicia Greated is Executive Director of Campaign for Science and Engineering where she leads a dynamic organisation that has shaped significant changes in UK public policy.

Prior to this, Alicia was CEO of the Knowledge Transfer Network, and previously was Global Director of Research and Enterprise at Heriot Watt University.

Alicia is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and holds a number of advisory roles including as a member of the Royal Society’s Science, Industry and Translation Committee, and a recently as a member of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

More information about the make up of Interface Strategic Board can be found here.

Photo shows, from left, Prof. Wayne Powell, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Dr Andrea Taylor and Dr Alicia Greated.