This September, Inform Prize events are taking place in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

What is the Inform Prize?

Running since 2014, the Inform Prize gives Computer Science students a platform to present their software development projects to industry, compete for prizes, and connect with professionals looking for the next generation of talent. This year, organisers aim to expand the number of competing teams to be the biggest in the competition’s 12-year history.

When and where?

Glasgow – 16 September, 12:00-16:30 at University of Glasgow

Aberdeen – 23 September, 12:30-16:30 at Trinity Hall

Why attend?

Whether you are looking to recruit interns or graduates, stay connected with the university talent pipeline, or simply want to support students in your city, the Inform Prize events are worth your afternoon. Everyone is welcome, regardless of background or sector.

How do I sign up?

You can register via Eventbrite:

Aberdeen – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-inform-prize-aberdeen-tickets-1986070026914

Glasgow – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-inform-prize-2026-glasgow-tickets-1987384643969

Interested in sponsoring?

Sponsorship is a great way to raise your profile with students and academics while directly backing Scottish computing talent. Get in touch to find out more:

Glasgow – informprize@veryconnect.com

Aberdeen – informprize@intelligentplant.com

Reinventing Product Authentication with Quantum Science

Background

Quantatrace is a Glasgow-based deep-tech start-up building physical authentication technology that binds a product’s optical signature to its digital identity, closing the gap between digital serialisation, which proves a code is valid, and true product authentication, which proves the physical item is genuine. The company’s founder has been part of multiple enterprise system deployments, most recently DEUTZ in Germany for their S/4HANA implementation across their China and Germany plants, and is certified in SAP ICSM and serialisation (SAP ATTP), an origin that shaped Quantatrace’s central thesis: today’s systems verify the number, not the product.

Turning that thesis into a working system required a validated library of luminescent nanoparticle formulations, characterised against the real substrates used across Quantatrace’s target sectors. As an early-stage company without in-house chemistry infrastructure, this meant finding an academic partner combining specialist nanoparticle synthesis expertise with appropriately equipped laboratory facilities, a combination that could not be sourced through a commercial contract research organisation.

The Challenge

Counterfeiting is a persistent, costly problem across global supply chains, and in pharmaceuticals it is a matter of patient safety: the World Health Organisation estimates that around one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, with falsified medicines linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year.

The specific challenge facing Quantatrace was threefold: developing quantum dot formulations with consistent, tunable optical properties; applying them reliably across a commercially representative range of substrate types with widely varying surface properties; and characterising each formulation-substrate combination to a standard of documentation suitable for future patent filings, investor diligence, and Fraunhofer CAP optical reader calibration. The work demanded wet chemistry infrastructure together with expertise in nanoparticle handling, extraction and stabilisation, beyond anything the company could assemble in-house at this stage.

The Solution

Interface’s matchmaking identified Dr William Peveler, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in Molecular Engineering, Nanomaterials and Biosensing at the School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, as the right academic partner for this work. Dr Peveler brings extensive hands-on experience with luminescent nanoparticles, including quantum dots and other materials, applied to sensing and biosensing research.

His laboratory provides wet chemistry facilities, including compressed gas systems, fume cupboards, dedicated chemical storage and disposal infrastructure, and spectrometry equipment, and is one of very few facilities in Scotland capable of supporting this work safely and to the required scientific standard.

Supported by Interface and funded through an Innovation Voucher, Quantatrace partnered with Dr Peveler’s lab to develop and characterise a diverse library of luminescent nanoparticle formulations for authentication use. The nanoparticles were modified and incorporated into proprietary formulations, and deposition optimisation was carried out within the Peveler Lab, giving Quantatrace a materials pipeline that is not dependent on a single formulation approach. Multiple deposition approaches were developed and validated for applying formulations consistently across substrate types, supported by dedicated in-house equipment for application and rapid quality control.

Formulations and substrate samples were developed in direct, three-way coordination with Fraunhofer CAP, who are concurrently developing the optical reader system for Quantatrace’s authentication platform, ensuring the materials library was calibrated to the reader hardware’s detection specifications from the outset, rather than adapted to it after the fact.

Company Benefits

• A validated TRL4 materials library, advanced from TRL3 through this project, is a core technical asset underpinning Quantatrace’s wider R&D programme.
• Experimental data from the project shaped a UK patent application filed in January 2026, with a second pharma-specific application now in preparation (detail withheld pending prosecution), strengthening Quantatrace’s IP position ahead of further fundraising.
• Physical prototype samples produced during the project now support early commercial conversations across pharmaceutical and other critical supply chains.
• The collaboration gave Quantatrace access to specialist wet chemistry infrastructure and expertise in quantum dot handling, extraction and stabilisation that an early-stage company could not have built or bought in-house.
• All project milestones and deliverables were completed on time and within budget, to a standard of scientific documentation Quantatrace can rely on for future patent, investor, and regulatory purposes.

Academic Benefits

• The project gave Dr Peveler’s lab a directly applied, commercially grounded research challenge at the intersection of nanoparticle chemistry and industrial authentication need.
• A paid researcher in the laboratory was retained and was able to gain hands-on, industry-linked experience as part of their research training, whilst developing their knowledge of materials chemistry.
• The three-way collaboration with Fraunhofer CAP added a systems-level dimension to the lab’s work, grounding materials research in practical deployment requirements.
• The relationship has continued beyond the funded project, opening avenues for longer-term translational collaboration.

Next Steps

• Phase 2 collaboration, covering encapsulation and durability, materials library expansion, and Fraunhofer CAP integration testing, is being formalised through an Interface Advanced Innovation Voucher.
• Quantatrace is progressing the validated materials library toward TRL5 and industry pilot readiness.
• Building on the materials library developed in Dr Peveler’s lab, reader technology with Fraunhofer CAP, platform software integration, and the machine vision verification pipeline are now progressing, alongside integration with established GS1-based serialisation infrastructure.
• Longer-term academic collaboration opportunities are being explored and further work packages scoped.

Quantatrace is building toward supply chains where physical proof and digital identity verify each other. Quantatrace is the physical layer of trust.

Transforming paediatric neurodiagnostics through AI‑enabled clinical data analysis to improve how childhood diseases are identified, diagnosed, and managed

Background

Seluna Ltd is a Scottish med‑tech startup whose work focuses on paediatric healthcare and transforming how childhood diseases are identified, diagnosed, and managed—starting with sleep‑disordered breathing. Through a collaboration with the University of Glasgow supported by Interface and an Innovation Voucher, Seluna has taken a major step toward enabling accurate diagnosis of childhood obstructive sleep disordered breathing through AI‑driven analysis of wearable and hospital device data.

Childhood sleep‑disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea, is a common yet under‑diagnosed condition with significant short‑ and long‑term health consequences. Seluna Ltd was established to address this unmet clinical need by combining advanced software, data science, and machine‑learning expertise with clinically grounded innovation.

The Challenge

Approximately 4% of children are affected by obstructive sleep apnoea, yet an estimated 80% remain undiagnosed. Current diagnostic pathways rely on hospital‑based overnight sleep studies that are slow, expensive, labour‑intensive, and dependent on scarce specialist staff. These constraints place significant pressure on NHS services and mean many children never receive a sleep study or appropriate treatment.

Seluna had already developed machine‑learning software capable of automating sleep‑study analysis, tackling a major bottleneck in the diagnostic process. However, the challenge remains that an accurate diagnosis still requires an in-hospital study.

The Solution

Through an Interface‑funded Innovation Voucher project running from November 2024 to February 2025, Seluna partnered with the University of Glasgow to develop a novel AI algorithm pipeline, capable of identifying sleep apnoea from wearable cardiorespiratory signals. This was a feasibility study to show that Seluna’s custom AI data analytics, paired with existing wearable technology, may allow for accurate, home-based testing in children.

Interface played a critical role by initiating and funding the collaboration, enabling Seluna to access world‑leading expertise and facilities that were not available in‑house or commercially. The academic team – led by Dr Jack Radford and Professor Daniele Faccio’s Extreme Light Group—provided specialist knowledge in biophotonics, signal processing, machine learning, light–tissue interaction, optical signal acquisition, and experimental design. Their laboratory infrastructure and academic expertise enabled rapid feasibility testing and optimisation.

The collaboration was highly synergistic, combining Seluna’s strengths in AI, signal processing, and clinical data analysis with the University’s deep expertise in biosensors. The project was further supported by clinicians from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Royal Hospital for Children, Sleep & Respiratory Medicine, ENT, and Clinical Physics, exemplifying a strong industry–academia–healthcare partnership.

Company Benefits

• The proof of concept generated through the Interface‑supported project directly contributed to Seluna securing £580,000 in private investment in June 2025, enabling the creation of two new full‑time roles and safeguarding four existing positions.
• The collaboration strengthened Seluna’s credibility in deep‑tech medical innovation and supported the award of £267k in additional public funding, including the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award (£70,000, December 2024) and a Scottish Enterprise implementation grant (£48,000, July 2025).
• Clinically, the work enabled Seluna to launch a 500‑patient Phase 1 clinical validation study with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and to establish new collaborations with NHS Sheffield, NHS Southampton, and leading paediatric hospitals in the United States.
• Also it allowed Seluna to establish a long-lasting collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which continues to drive and accelerate R&D activities today.

Academic Benefits

• The project delivered significant academic impact, particularly for Dr Radford, for whom it represented the first opportunity to secure and lead an independent grant – an important milestone toward academic independence. It provided clear evidence of translational research, demonstrating how biophotonics expertise can address actual clinical and industrial challenges.
• The collaboration expanded the research group’s engagement with industry‑partnered funding and international networks. Follow‑on funding supported research visits to Boston in March 2025, strengthening links with MIT, Harvard University, and major US paediatric hospitals.
• The Interface project led directly to an extended consultancy agreement with Seluna, the award of an SFC QuantumARC grant, and the University of Glasgow’s involvement in a wider Innovate UK programme with Seluna, reinforcing long‑term strategic collaboration.

Next Steps

• Seluna and the University of Glasgow will continue working through an ongoing consultancy to deliver a research prototype device in 2026, supporting further investment and clinical validation.
• Seluna is planning a UK‑wide multicentre Phase 2 clinical study beginning in February 2026, alongside parallel preparations for US‑based studies.
• From an academic perspective, the results of the Interface project are supporting fellowship applications and a proposed co‑funded PhD studentship aimed at translating biophotonics research into commercial IP and product development. These next steps ensure sustained impact for both Seluna and the academic partners.

“What can I say – we have worked alongside colleagues at Interface since 2019 with over 20 different projects under our belt. Each project has sharpened and nudged us forward. This genuine relationship has also led to a long‑term partnership with UWS and connections with multiple universities. From immersive tech to engineering, sustainability and now social robotics, Interface has helped us open ourselves up to fresh, innovative thinking with real impact. It’s a win‑win‑win.”
Mike Benson, Director, The Scottish Crannog Centre

Background

The Scottish Crannog Centre, located on Loch Tay in Perthshire, is an award‑winning museum and living history site dedicated to caring for, researching and sharing the stories of Scotland’s Iron Age crannogs. Through reconstructed dwellings, experimental archaeology, traditional crafts and immersive interpretation, the Centre brings to life how people lived, built and engineered over water some 2,500 years ago.

Since the original Interface‑supported project, the organisation has undergone a period of profound change. Following the devastating fire in 2021, the Centre relocated to a larger, better‑situated site at Dalerb on Loch Tay. This move accelerated its transformation from a successful but ageing visitor attraction into a values‑driven, museum‑focused organisation with social justice, sustainability and community at its heart. The Centre has since more than tripled its income, doubled staff numbers and embarked on a £6m redevelopment programme, including the construction of a new, full‑scale crannog using predominantly Iron Age techniques and materials.

All of this growth has been underpinned by long‑term collaboration with universities across Scotland, brokered and supported by Interface.

The Challenge

As the Centre evolved, it faced multiple, interconnected challenges:

• Modernising interpretation and exhibitions while retaining the authenticity and emotional power of hands‑on, outdoor heritage.
• Demonstrating the sophisticated engineering, sustainability and ingenuity of Iron Age building techniques in ways that are accessible to diverse audiences.
• Embedding social impact, community participation and sustainability into the DNA of a new national museum.
• Rebuilding resilience, capacity and confidence following the loss of the original crannog.

Meeting these challenges required specialist academic expertise, fresh perspectives and the capacity to experiment – resources that are difficult for a small cultural charity to access alone.

The Journey and Interface’s Role

Interface has played a sustained, strategic role since 2019, acting as a trusted connector between the Scottish Crannog Centre and academic expertise. Innovation Engagement Executive Lorna Watson worked closely with Director Mike Benson and the wider team to understand evolving ambitions and identify the right academic partners at each stage of development.

Rather than a single intervention, Interface enabled a portfolio of collaborations that grew alongside the organisation, spanning technology, engineering, design, sustainability, social impact, marketing and robotics. Over 20 projects have now been delivered, many supported by Scottish Funding Council Innovation Vouchers and follow‑on funding.

Key Collaborations and Developments

Immersive Technology and Interpretation (University of the West of Scotland)

The original Innovation Voucher project with UWS laid the foundations for a step‑change in interpretation. It delivered:

• A feasibility study for immersive and mixed‑reality heritage experiences.
• Designs for augmented exhibition spaces.
• Prototype VR and mobile‑based experiences.

These outputs informed the creation of a new gallery and continue to shape the Centre’s approach to storytelling, helping collections to “sing” to different audiences. The partnership has since expanded to include branding, marketing, student placements, VR development and sustainability‑focused projects, forming a long‑term strategic relationship.

Artefacts, Design and Creative Media (UWS & UHI)

Follow‑on projects that brought unseen artefacts to life and enhanced The Crannog brand include:

• A 3D printed replica of a rare Iron Age musical instrument bridge that visitors can handle.
• A student‑designed comic book aimed at educating children on Iron Age Scotland, the artefacts found on the excavation site and how they relate to life in 500BC. An authentic and meaningful project, the comic book is still sold in the centre today and the storyline drives the puppet show delivered to families throughout the season offering a great way to engage with younger audiences.  
• An important piece of work involved the rebranding of The Crannog prior to the launch of the new site in 2025 following a £6 million development.  Ewan Smith, a design student with UHI Perth developed the branding, delivered workshops to staff and volunteers, tested and honed the design coming up with the complete branding both physical and online for the opening of the new site at Dalerb. 

Engineering the Iron Age (Heriot‑Watt University)

As part of the move to Dalerb, Interface connected the Centre with Heriot‑Watt University engineering students to explore the structural ingenuity of crannog construction. Working alongside craftspeople, archaeologists and engineers, students designed interactive model crannogs made from sustainable materials reclaimed from the main build.

These hands‑on models, launched in spring 2025, allow visitors to experiment with forces, stability and construction strategies, translating Iron Age engineering into playful, contemporary learning. For students, the collaboration reframed engineering beyond industrial contexts, highlighting sustainability, logic and longevity.

Measuring Social Impact and Sustainability (University of Glasgow)

A 2023/24 student placement focused on articulating the Centre’s societal impact. This work examined:

• Mentoring and work experience for local young people with additional support needs.
• Partnerships with organisations such as Glasgow Association for Mental Health, Maryhill Integration Network and UNESCO Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts.
• The Centre’s four pillars of sustainability: people, partnerships, place and landscape.

The project helped evidence a sustainable museum model based on growing materials, skills, partners and audiences, supporting award submissions and future funding.

Film, Storytelling and the Rebuild (Edinburgh Napier University)

A filming placement documented the reconstruction of the new crannog, capturing traditional skills, community participation and the ambition to create a national museum with activism and inclusion at its core. This content supports interpretation, fundraising and digital engagement.

Looking Ahead: Social Robotics (University of Glasgow, 2026)

The next phase of innovation will explore human‑centred social robotics. In a co‑design research partnership, researchers will work with staff and visitors to prototype robots that enhance public engagement, for example, supporting tours or multilingual interpretation while reflecting the Centre’s values of inclusivity and care.

Impacts on the Organisation and Community

Organisational Growth and Resilience

• More than tripled income and doubled staff since relocation.
• Strengthened brand identity and national profile.
• Increased capacity to attract funding and deliver complex capital projects.

Innovation and Visitor Experience

• New galleries, interactive models, VR and tactile exhibits.
• Interpretation that connects ancient engineering, sustainability and contemporary challenges.

Community and Social Impact

• Deepened engagement with local communities, refugees, mental health organisations and young people with additional support needs.
• A co‑created museum shaped by “a thousand fingerprints and voices”.

Skills, Learning and Talent Pipeline

• Real‑world learning opportunities for students across engineering, design, media, computing and social sciences.
• A two‑way exchange where academic insight and lived heritage practice inform one another.

Academic Benefits

Academic partners have gained access to a rich, real‑world testbed for applied research and teaching. Students engage with authentic challenges, while universities strengthen their civic mission and visibility. Relationships have extended into advisory roles, placements, curriculum enrichment and long‑term research collaborations.

Moving Forward

The Scottish Crannog Centre demonstrates how sustained academic collaboration – enabled by Interface – can transform a small heritage organisation into a resilient, innovative, community‑centred national museum. Geography has proven no barrier to excellence; instead, partnership, curiosity and shared values have driven growth, impact and ambition far beyond the loch shore.

A full day event designed to equip delegates with the insights, strategies, and connections needed to transform pioneering ideas into impactful healthcare solutions – delivering real-world value within the NHS and on a global stage.

The programme will feature expert-led sessions on how to shape, position, and scale healthcare innovations for maximum adoption and success. Interactive panels will delve into the challenges, opportunities, and success stories, offering valuable insights and practical takeaways.

A highlight of the programme will be a keynote address from Sir Tony Kouzarides, who will share his perspective on how groundbreaking ideas and collaborative innovation can drive meaningful change in healthcare.

We’re also excited to bring back our poster competition, showcasing cutting-edge research from early career researchers at the forefront of digital health, AI, precision medicine, and more – opening doors for potential collaboration and partnership.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, researcher, innovator, or industry partner, this is a unique opportunity to connect, share ideas, and be part of the conversation driving healthcare transformation both locally and globally.

Aligning Research with Real-World Impact

Life Sciences Partnerships Day on Wednesday 1st October 2025 will be a day of connection, collaboration and innovation bringing together academic researchers, funders, industry and other external organisations to explore how the University of Glasgow’s life sciences expertise can help tackle real-world challenges.

This event is designed to create space for meaningful engagement between Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS) researchers and external organisations. Through a combination of keynote talks, industry-led pitches, collaborative workshops, and networking opportunities, the day aims to:

• Showcase MVLS research strengths and ambitions
• Identify opportunities for collaborative problem-solving
• Facilitate conversations around funding, skills development, and translational impact
• Build lasting partnerships to address key societal challenges with a focus on human and animal health, life sciences, and the environment
  

Meet Interface’s Gillian Hambley and Jackie Sanderson at this event.

A one-day event where you’ll hear inspiring impact success stories, meet potential collaborators from other Scottish universities, and explore funding and training opportunities to kick-start your own impact-focused projects.

The IAA Impact Festival is organised by the five Scottish universities with EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs): Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt and St Andrews.

Speakers

This year’s keynote speaker is Fran Scott. Listed in The Progress 1000 London’s most influential people, Fran is the Science Content Developer at the Royal Institution as well as being the only female science presenter on CBBC. A scientist by training and an engineer at heart, Fran uses her knowledge to entertain and excite audiences of stage and screen. She is best known for her playful (and often fiery) demonstrations on the CBBC show Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom. With her own production company, Great Scott! Productions, she writes and produces high-octane shows for clients such as Google for Education, Mishkat Science Centre, Siemens and National Grid. Balancing entertainment with education, Fran manages to inject her demonstrations with narrative and humour to make them as enjoyable as they are informative.

You’ll also hear lightning talks from impact leaders at the five organising universities, sharing insights into their projects and the value of partnering with industry, government, and the third sector.

Networking sessions

Meet other researchers from across Scotland and creatively explore opportunities to collaborate through facilitated, structured networking sessions.

Exhibitors

In the exhibition space, you will meet funders and innovation hubs that can provide support for your impact activities. Interface are exhibiting at this event.

Accelerate your HealthTech solution with University of Glasgow’s Evidence Generation Bootcamp!

Building on the success of the inaugural bootcamp last year, the Digital Health Validation Lab is hosting its second edition on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd of October. This two-day, hands-on event is designed for HealthTech innovators who are ready to accelerate their solutions and drive real-world impact.

In today’s fast-moving and competitive HealthTech landscape, robust evidence is critical to achieving regulatory approval, adoption, scale, and long-term success. This bootcamp provides a practical framework to help you confidently navigate the complexities of evidence generation and build a clear, actionable strategy aligned with your innovation and route to market.

Through expert-led sessions, you’ll gain:

• Clarity on your evidence requirements and how to address them effectively
• Confidence to engage key stakeholders with timely, relevant evidence and navigate complex evidence demands
• A personalised roadmap for evidence generation, tailored to your solution and market strategy
• Improved understanding of approaches to: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI); concept validation; health economic modelling; simulation; technical feasibility and AI performance testing; clinical investigations for regulatory approval; and clinical and cost-effectiveness studies to support adoption.

Who should attend?

HealthTech startups, SMEs, innovation leads, and academic researchers ready to turn a great solution into an evidence-backed, scalable success.

Headline speakers include:

Professor Olivia Wu is a globally recognised authority in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). She holds the prestigious William R Lindsay Chair of Health Economics at the University of Glasgow’s HEHTA and serves as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Professor Neil Hawkins is a Professor of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) at the University of Glasgow, where he brings decades of cross-sector experience to advancing evidence-based healthcare decision-making. His career spans academia, industry, and consultancy, with contributions across pharmacology, clinical development, epidemiology, and HTA.

Professor David Lowe is an Emergency Consultant at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), Clinical Director of Innovation at the University of Glasgow, and Clinical Director for Health Innovation for the Scottish Government.

Ticket Price

£295.00 – Early Bird Rate (until 15 August 2025)

£350.00 – Standard Rate (from 16 August 2025)

Please note that registration will close on Friday 19 September.

Overview

This conference is a free, interactive, facilitated event promoting dialogue between academics and voluntary sector practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders from a broad range of third sector organisations.

Key note speaker: Professor Sarah Skerratt, RSE

The conference will let you:

• Hear from some of the latest third sector research projects
• Discuss findings and share learning around impact
• Meet and network with other third sector researchers and academics involved in voluntary sector-related research

Following the wide-ranging events that take place during Volunteer Week in Scotland in the first week of June, this full-day event will cast a critical eye over the many facets of impact that relate to the third sector in Scotland.

This research symposium is jointly hosted by The Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and the Third Sector Research Forum (hosted by Evaluation Support Scotland), the University of Glasgow, Youth Link Scotland, Volunteer Scotland and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

Themes for the day include:

• The impact of volunteering and the third sector in different settings, including health, wellbeing and the wellbeing economy
• The impact of small community organisations and place-based volunteering
• How does the sector navigate working with the local grassroots communities?
• How to measure the value of the sector and to understand the place of evaluations and measuring impact in the third sector
• The impact of doing research in collaboration with volunteering organisations and the impact of community led research on research values and ethics

This in-person event is aimed at anyone who does, uses or commissions research about volunteering or community and third sector organisations, in particular:

• Members of the Third Sector Research Forum
• VSSN members
• Third sector researchers
• Academics involved in third sector-related/community-led research