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.
Edinburgh based Shot Scope are aiming to enhance the game of golf for 60 million amateur golfers worldwide. They recently raised $8.5m funding which plans to bring its subscription-free technology – such as GPS wearables, laser rangefinders and shot tracking devices to more golfers around the world. Shot Scope were introduced to Edinburgh Napier University to work on a collaborative project via Interface.
Roslin-based Dyneval, a platform technology for motility measurement is amongst the Scottish companies receiving part of £1.2 million in UK Government funding for agricultural AI projects. The funding supports AI-enhanced robotics for automating tasks like trimming and replanting on farms. Dyneval were connected with University of Strathclyde via Interface to work on a collaborative project.
£100k has been awarded to Green Bioactives via Scottish Enterprise SMART grant to advance its biomanufacturing platform for high-value molecules in the personal care industry. This project aims to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional ingredients used in products like skincare and cosmetics. Interface has worked with Green Bioactives to generate relationships with Robert Gordon University.
Congratulations to the Women Enterprise Scotland Awards finalists. The awards will see 48 firms and individuals vying for trophies during the awards ceremony in October. Amongst the businesses included several organisations we’re proud to have worked with. Including:
- ThermaFY
- Kingdom Scotland
- John White and Sons Ltd
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 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.
For over 900 years, St Giles’ Cathedral has stood as an iconic landmark in the heart of Edinburgh, welcoming over 1.4 million visitors annually.
But unravelling the mysteries of its construction and bringing its rich history to life has been a challenge – until now.
In a groundbreaking collaboration for its 900th year, the world-famous cathedral has joined forces with the University of Glasgow’s Games and Gaming Lab (UofGGamesLab), and game development studio Education Evolved, for Project HeritAIge.
Through this pioneering initiative, St Giles’ Cathedral has been recreated in a captivating historical video game, transporting visitors through its architectural evolution with the aim of engaging as wide a range of public audiences as possible.
This new freely available game, playable in web browsers and in the Cathedral itself, will allow visitors to build St Giles’ as they answer questions and learn about the Cathedral’s history and architecture.
Stephen Preston, Deputy Head of Heritage and Culture at St Giles’ Cathedral, said: “I knew showing how the Cathedral was built had to be an interactive experience and probably digital. Thanks to Interface, who put us in touch with the future Project Lead Dr Tim Peacock and his team, we will be realising this vision.”
“UofGGamesLab really is at the cutting edge of how we interpret heritage sites. It’s great for Scotland (and St Giles’) to have such institutions, and the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) as a whole, on our doorstep.”
Matthew Leeper, the Managing Director and spokesperson for Education Evolved, said: “Being a part of this project, and bringing the cathedral to life in a new and innovative way, designed to engage and educate people who visit St Giles’ and visit their website around the world, has been a great initiative to be a part of.”
Departing from traditional text and sign-based interpretation methods, the game will immerse players in the Cathedral’s various ages through original artwork and multilayered information. As they answer questions and learn about the site’s history and architecture, visitors will virtually reconstruct St Giles’.
This project represents a co-creative collaboration between academia, public bodies, charities and industry. Facilitated by Interface and engaging the innovative education technology company Education Evolved Ltd on game development, HeritAIge has explored responsibly using AI to translate heritage sites into game form.
Louise Arnold, Business Engagement Executive, Interface, said: “The challenge facing St Giles’ Cathedral is one facing many visitor attractions today – how do you attract more visitors on any given day. It’s been great working with St Giles’ Cathedral connecting them to Dr Tim Peacock at University of Glasgow Games Lab, and the collaboration with Education Evolved Ltd who saw the vision to undertake a cross-disciplinary research initiative exploring AI, cultural heritage and historical data translated into a research-informed historical video game.
“It’s amazing to now see the working prototype of the interactive game, enabling visitors to delve into a virtual world of history and heritage.”
Dr Tim Peacock added: “We hope this research-informed game will contribute to making the already truly remarkable historic site of St Giles’ accessible to new generations of visitors from around the world.”
A pilot for this initiative greatly benefited from the Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher scheme, managed by Interface, and the main project has been made possible by significant support from the University of Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Funding and by finance from St Giles’ Cathedral.
The project was hosted by the University of Glasgow’s world-leading Advanced Research Centre (ARC). Among its objectives, HeritAIge has explored new methods of translating heritage sites into game form, including ways of responsibly using (or of not using) AI to achieve this goal.
To play the game please click here
Image shows Rev Dr George Whyte, Interim Moderator of St Giles’ Cathedral, viewing the new historical video game launched for St Giles’ Cathedral’s 900th anniversary. Photo by Martin Shields.
The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund from Interface and the Scottish Government is aimed at attracting businesses out with Scotland, through developing partnerships with universities, research institutes, colleges and innovation centres.
Funding of up to £10,000 will be awarded to successful applications in this round, with a further competitive call expected later in the year.
Since its launch in 2021, the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has awarded £250,000 to 25 projects from energy transition and the decarbonisation of transport to health tech, and from companies headquartered as far afield as South Africa, Singapore and the United States. Engagement has led to further opportunities with facilities such as the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland and the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment enhancing the Inward Investment proposition.
As a result, four companies now have a presence in Scotland and many have engaged in longer-term collaborations with academic institutions, including a number of PhD Studentships and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur said: “Attracting inward investment is a key lever to driving economic growth and creating high quality jobs. Scotland has established itself as the top performing part of the UK for attracting investment outside London, and I am determined that we continue to maintain this momentum.
“Our universities and academics have a vital role in helping to grow Scotland’s economy and the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has encouraged strong collaboration between prospective investors and our world-class academic institutions. I look forward to this year’s catalyst funding helping to develop more academic-business collaborations and new opportunities that could lead to prospective investors setting up operations in Scotland.”
A previous recipient of the fund, Smartify, worked with the University of the West of Scotland to develop their app for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
Thanos Kokkiniotis, Smartify CEO, said: “Our project, funded through the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund, was a unique opportunity to combine innovation seed funding with academic expertise and commercial traction in a way that rarely happens. The University of the West of Scotland Creative Computing Technologies Research Group allowed us to develop and maintain a healthy balance between commercial objectives, tech capabilities and expertise, building in a way we were never able to do before, and we now have an office and a team in Scotland.”
Howell Davies, Interface’s Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding, added: “As well as the expected outcomes we are seeing from the initial business – academic projects, many have led to broader relationships and access to support strengthening the case for companies to establish a base here in Scotland, as Smartify has achieved.”
The deadline for applications is Friday 26 July, 2024. More information can be found here.
Read more about the app development between Smartify and the University of the West of Scotland here.
Image shows the Smartify app in action at a major art gallery. Companies such as Smartify have worked with Scottish academics to develop their products, with the help of Interface and Scottish Government funding.
Innovative people and partnerships in the world of business-academic collaborations were celebrated at the 9th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards in Glasgow today (Thursday, March 14, 2024).
The awards, held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, recognised winners across seven categories for their achievements in research and development between organisations, colleges and universities.
Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said: “These awards highlight valuable collaborations in Scotland which are developing cutting-edge innovations to make a real difference to people’s lives.
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting information exchange between businesses and academia. An example is our Inward Investment Catalyst Fund, which since its launch in 2021, has supported 25 businesses outside of Scotland to collaborate on projects with Scottish academic institutions, with an ambition of attracting inward investment.”
Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, which organises the Awards, added: “The nomination process has surfaced some great examples of business-academic partnerships that demonstrate immense creativity, novel approaches and ingenuity taking place in all sectors of industry and in communities throughout Scotland. Particularly strong this year are health and environmental developments, which push boundaries and will benefit many individuals and communities.”
The winners are:
Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Ltd
Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, and The University of Edinburgh for developing a pipeline for identification and characterisation of novel gluten-degrading enzymes. These enzymes can be used for production of tasty and affordable wheat-based gluten-free bread, providing a realistic alternative for people with gluten intolerance.
Innovator of the Future
Dr Maria Martinez Castillero, KTP Associate working with The University of Edinburgh and Beta Bugs Ltd, for improving Black Soldier Fly genetic performance, as a high-quality protein source for livestock, through developing, testing and implementing the key data infrastructure and workflow for the Beat Bugs breeding programme, ensuring that genetic progress can be measured and tracked.
Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by PraxisAuril
Professor Sir Michael Ferguson for his continuous commitment to highly impactful Knowledge Exchange from Scotland’s life sciences research base spanning over 18 years. His achievements include forming the University of Dundee’s unique translational Drug Discovery Unit, supporting at least eight successful spin-out companies and championing the creation of a Life Sciences Innovation District in Dundee.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes (individual)
Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College, for being an Innovation Champion for the college sector, collaborating cross college and the sector to provide solutions for businesses and promoting the support colleges can offer to adopt and diffuse innovation. Working within the college’s Business Development team, Michelle has co-ordinated the development of a comprehensive innovation portfolio in the space of just 18 months.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes (team)
The Wellcome iTPA Team operates an embedded human health and wellbeing innovation accelerator programme at The University of Edinburgh. Innovative, agile and operating at scale, the team has supported over 1,000 early career researchers and established the first, largest and most engaged community of over 1,300 researchers. The team has supported over 180 projects with £1.8M in direct funding and returned £12.2M in further funding, a 600% return on investment.
Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise In Scotland (CEIS)
A joint venture between University of the West of Scotland and Kibble Education & Care Centre focusing on the development of a self-harm and suicide detection and health monitoring system for young people who have high-risk emotional and behavioural challenges who would otherwise require constant supervision from highly trained staff.
Highly Commended
West College Scotland and The Bettii Pod Ltd for collaborating on the design and development of a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles.
The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
Making an Environmental Difference – sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
The Flow Country Partnership, working with University of the Highlands & Islands Environmental Research Institute, have the collective aims of re-evaluating the blanket bog peatlands of the Flow Country and ensuring, through individual and collective action, that outcomes related to climate change mitigation, natural capital, sustainability and biodiversity conservation are optimised. It also seeks to ensure that the social and economic benefits arising from appropriate and effective management of this globally significant natural are optimised.
Multiparty Collaboration
Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), a collaboration between University of the Highlands and Islands and multiple partners in the public and private sector, has created, through the rigorous and technology-agnostic evaluation of low-carbon technologies, a blueprint for the commercialisation of green regional aircraft operations, providing increased resilience for communities and businesses in remote and rural locations.
Earlier this week, (26th February) Interface and Food and Drink Federation Scotland (FDF Scotland) hosted an event at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Celebrating Reformulation and Innovation for Health.
This followed on from funding calls developed to support activity and projects for food and drink companies and gave an opportunity not only to hear about the work being done but also informing and inspiring others to improve the health of their products. The call for action to address the nation’s diet and diet-related illness has never been stronger.
Recipe reformulation is rated as one of the most effective ways industry can help improve dietary health in Scotland, and speakers from industry, academia, public sector and government offered their insights into the work they are undertaking to achieve this.
In a video address, Jenni Minto, MSP and Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, thanked the food and drink industry for their hard work and dedication to improve the diet and health of the population. Ms Minto said that reformulation was a fascinating way to improve the health properties of the food and drink regularly consumed and that she was impressed by the reformulation work undertaken.
Joanne Burns, Reformulation for Health Manager at FDF Scotland, set the scene for the day recognising that food producers cannot do this alone; a holistic approach across the whole food system is needed. Their Reformul8 Partnership is designed to link up all the stakeholders involved in getting a healthier, reformulated product onto the dinner table or packed lunch.
Laura Wilson from Food Standards Scotland and Lesley Ann Gray from Kantar offered insights on policy and research highlighting the importance of reformulating aspects of the Scottish diet to promote healthier lifestyles all round.
Speakers from Queen Margaret University, Abertay University and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) then gave examples of how they have been able to support industry through the help of the Healthier Products Innovation Fund, an £80,000 fund for companies to work with Scottish academia.
Delegates heard about innovative reformulation projects including recipe development, reducing or replacing ingredients such as salt, fat, sugar and palm oil for manufacturers, fortification and the specialist facilities they house to support projects to create healthier products.
Lucinda Bryce-Gardyne, Chair of Scotland Food & Drink and founder of Genius Foods, provided some of her own experiences and passion for science as part of a panel, which she led. The panel discussed the importance of innovation and the role academia has to play through understanding the science behind each of the components and how they interact to develop healthier products, while ensuring they are just as desirable for the consumer. The panel was joined by Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, who are working to make gluten-safe bread and bakery products for consumers with coeliac or gluten sensitivity by denaturing the toxic parts of the gluten protein in wheat flour.
Howell Davies, Head of Strategic Programmes at Interface, stated: “It was a well attended event with plenty of lively discussion and interactions across all delegates, speakers and exhibitors. The whole vibe to the day reflected the appetite of the food industry in Scotland to continue to improve the health of their products.
“We heard from a wide array of expert support and some great examples of those who have made changes to their product which will also improve the health of their businesses and the health of the nation.”
The afternoon session was opened by Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef, who announced the latest winners of the Reformul8 Challenge Fund. He described how food in Scotland has developed over time and the focus he has personally put on cutting back on certain ingredients whilst promoting others, such as protein and fibre. Other speakers that afternoon included FDF Scotland, Growers Garden, Simon Howie Foods, Ulrick & Short, Saltsmith and Healy Group.
Growers Garden and Simon Howie Foods spoke on their individual reformulation projects that they had completed with assistance from the Reformul8 programme, while the latter three speakers provided insights to their work within the reformulation space providing interesting insights into HFSS as well as tools and products they have available to assist manufacturers with this challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about reformulation and product development and how academia could support you and your business please do get in touch.
Photo shows Howell Davies, Interface, and Joanne Burns, FDF Scotland, signing a pledge for healthier food and drink.
Photo caption: our shortlist for the Knowledge Exchange Heroes (individual) category – Ellen Pauley, University of Dundee; Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College and Dr Marieke Hoeve, The University of Edinburgh.
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The people and partnerships behind ground-breaking innovations are being celebrated this Valentine’s Day with the unveiling of the shortlist for the 2024 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
Organised by business-academic matchmaking organisation Interface, the Awards celebrate successful partnerships at the cutting-edge of research and development, from local micro-businesses to globally significant discoveries, partnering with universities, colleges and research institutes to change lives in Scotland and beyond.
Now in it’s 9th year, the Awards ceremony will take place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 14th March, when the winners will be presented with awards in seven categories.
The finalists are:
Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Ltd
The Bettii Pod Ltd, and West College Scotland for collaborating on the design and development of Bettii, a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles. The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
Green Cross Medico Ltd, and Edinburgh Napier University for developing a new innovate medical product. The thermal vasodilatory device is designed to improve Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) treatment outcomes, increase patient mobility, minimise leg amputations and deliver cost savings to the NHS.
Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, and The University of Edinburgh for developing a pipeline for identification and characterisation of novel gluten-degrading enzymes using mass spectrometry. These enzymes can be used for production of tasty and affordable wheat-based gluten-free bread, providing a realistic alternative for people with gluten intolerance.
Innovator of the Future
Dr Maria Martinez Castillero, KTP Associate working with The University of Edinburgh and Beta Bugs Ltd, for improving Black Soldier Fly genetic performance, as a high-quality protein source for livestock, through developing, testing and implementing the key data infrastructure and workflow for the Beat Bugs breeding programme, ensuring that genetic progress could be measured and tracked.
Dr Irene Mazzei, KTP Associate working with Edinburgh Napier University and Stoane Lighting, for improving the company’s environmental impact quantification, allowing a Life Cycle Assessment strategy to be created. In addition, Irene haspromoted the use of Life Cycle Assessment and other sustainability topics for the lighting industry.
Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by PraxisAuril
Professor Eyad Elyan is a renowned researcher in Machine Learning and AI and leads Robert Gordon University’s Interactive Machine Vision research Group. He has pioneered the development of AI-driven solutions across different domains and helped businesses to intelligently transform existing practices.
Professor Sir Michael Ferguson for his continuous commitment to highly impactful Knowledge Exchange from Scotland’s life sciences research base spanning over 18 years. His achievements include forming the University of Dundee’s unique translational Drug Discovery Unit, supporting at least eight successful spin-out companies and championing the creation of a Life Sciences Innovation District in Dundee.
Deborah Keogh is the first ever Knowledge Exchange Manager at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Deborah’s leadership has turbo-charged KE at the Conservatoire and promoted it as an energetic, creative, innovative and critical element of their work. Deborah’s collaborations with other Higher Education Institutions and micro businesses have changed the landscape of KE support for the creative industries.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes
Due to the high quality and number of applications received this year the category has been split into two, with awards to recognise individual and team knowledge exchange heroes.
Individual
Dr Marieke Hoeve, The University of Edinburgh, for delivering a unique Masters by Research programme in regenerative medicine that offers training and placements in academic and industrial/third sector organisations, propelling the careers of postgraduates and contributing to a skilled workforce in this fast-growing life sciences sector that faces a critical scarcity of specialised professionals that urgently needs addressing to bring advanced therapies to clinic.
Ellen Pauley, Innovation Co-ordinator at University of Dundee, for continually developing and delivering initiatives that have significantly increased interest, engagement, and funding of Knowledge Exchange with regional businesses, through creative thinking, a professional attitude and exceptional customer service.
Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College, for being an Innovation Champion for the college sector, collaborating cross college and the sector to provide solutions for businesses and promoting the support colleges can offer to adopt and diffuse innovation. Working within the college’s Business Development team, Michelle has co-ordinated the development of a comprehensive innovation portfolio in the space of just 18 months.
Team
The North of Scotland KTP Centre Team cultivates a truly collaborative approach to maximising the reach and impact of the Innovate UK-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme, supporting the development and delivery of transformative innovation with demonstrable benefits for all project participants and their wider stakeholder groups across the region, Scotland, and the whole UK.
One Ocean Hub’s Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Team at University of Strathclyde are an international and multidisciplinary team working on the ground-breaking and innovative approaches towards achieving the goal of inclusive and equitable ocean governance, whereby the people and the environment can flourish using expertise spanning environmental and human rights law, marine biology social sciences, environmental humanities, arts and history, to name but a few.
The Wellcome iTPA Team operates an embedded human health and wellbeing innovation accelerator programme at The University of Edinburgh. Innovative, agile and operating at scale, the team has supported over 1,000 early career researchers and established the first, largest and most engaged community of over 1,300 researchers. The team has supported over 180 projects with £1.8M in direct funding and returned £12.2M in further funding, a 600% return on investment.
Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise In Scotland (CEIS)
West College Scotland and The Bettii Pod Ltd for collaborating on the design and development of a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles. The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
A joint venture between University of the West of Scotland and Kibble Education & Care Centre focuses on the development of a self-harm and suicide detection and health monitoring system for young people who have high-risk emotional and behavioural challenges that would otherwise require constant supervision from highly trained staff.
Scottish Ballet and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) for Elevate, a dance programme for people with Multiple sclerosis (MS). It aims to positively impact on the wellbeing of participant dancers through offering a range of non-pharmacological tools and strategies that support self-management of symptoms commonly associated with MS. Collaboration and co-creation with research partner the RCS has been key in design and delivery and further development.
Making an Environmental Difference – sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
Anderson Bell & Christie Architects and the University of Strathclyde collaborating on a Zero Carbon Neighbourhood Toolkit that provides a data-driven, evidence-based method for designing both individual buildings and entire neighbourhoods. The toolkit supports local authorities, housing associations and developers in site appraisals, selecting the right location in regard to net zero targets, improving biodiversity, community health and well-being by place-based carbon reduction and sequestration solutions.
Fido Tech Ltd and University of the West of Scotland, working with and a Knowledge Transfer Partner to use AI technology to reduce water utility costs, lowering carbon emissions and helping reduce water scarcity and water poverty across the globe.
The Flow Country Partnership, working with University of the Highlands & Islands Environmental Research Institute, have the collective aims of re-evaluating the blanket bog peatlands of the Flow Country and ensuring through individual and collective action that outcomes related to climate change mitigation, natural capital, sustainability and biodiversity conservation are optimised. It also seeks to ensure that the social and economic benefits arising from appropriate and effective management of this globally significant natural are optimised.
Multiparty Collaboration
The University of Dundee’s Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) is a collaboration with three global pharmaceutical companies. DSTT has accelerated its partner companies’ drug programmes, and has also anchored Dundee’s investments from the Medical Research Council, and spawned a profitable reagents / specialist services business for global academic and industry R&D.
The University of Aberdeen’s Scottish Medical Education Research Consortium, Trickle and NHS Lothian for developing a ground-breaking wellbeing app entitled How Was Your Day? This innovative tool, backed by research working synergistically with leading edge technology, provides a uniquely tailored solution to employee engagement, enabling the transformation of workplace wellbeing, and enhancing the daily experiences for users.
Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), a collaboration between University of the Highlands and Islands and multiple partners in the public and private sector, has created, through the rigorous and technology-agnostic evaluation of low-carbon technologies, a blueprint for the commercialisation of green regional aircraft operations, providing increased resilience for communities and businesses in remote and rural locations.
The winners will be announced at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 14th March.
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