Academic innovations soar to new heights in 2018 Converge Challenge

Thursday 6th September 2018, 9:30am

The finalists have been announced for Scotland’s leading higher education company creation programme, illustrating that Scotland’s academic community continues to thrive as a collective entrepreneurial hub.



innovating across industries

With over 60% of the companies coming through being either founded or led by women, this year’s Converge Challenge is not only breaking down gender barriers but is innovating across multiple industries too. Renewable energy, health care and agriculture are just some of the industries these entrepreneurs are working within.

We are delighted to see Cytochroma shortlisted in the Converge category, and we will be welcoming the company soon to Roslin Innovation, providing both office and lab space.



Emerging technologies and much needed industry innovations are showcased by the twenty-three entrepreneurs that have been shortlisted. Ranging from early stage projects to established start-up and spin-out businesses, the finalists will head to Edinburgh later this month to take part in the awards ceremony of the 2018 Converge Challenge programme.

Renowned venture capitalist and serial investor, Paul Atkinson, founder of Par Equity and a member of the Converge Challenge Strategic Advisory Board, believes that high calibre of entries this year is a direct result of Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions’ continued support of innovative projects and ideas.


"Converge Challenge is a transformative programme which combines business support, training and mentoring as a complete package to support the business creation process. This sets Converge Challenge apart as Scotland’s most prestigious company creation programme for our academic community. It continuous to nurture disruptive innovative companies generating a much needed pipeline of high quality investable propositions."

Paul Atkinson, Converge Challenge Strategic Advisory Board

There are 23 finalists across the three categories which sit under the Converge Challenge. Seven finalists in the Converge category aimed at businesses ready to incorporate, ten in the KickStart Programme for early stage ideas and six in the Social Enterprise category aimed towards businesses creating positive impact on social and environmental issues.

Dr. Olga Kozlova, director of Converge Challenge, expressed her gratitude to every Higher Education Institution in Scotland for continuing to encourage participation in Converge Challenge.

"Scottish Universities are strongly committed to contributing to the Scottish Government’s economic strategy. For the university-based entrepreneurs their entrepreneurial journey starts with Converge Challenge – crystallising the business idea and making them part of the highly supportive ecosystem. We are delighted with such a strong cohort of projects and look forward to working with them in the months to come."

Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Converge Challenge

The Converge Challenge 2018 winners will be announced at a gala dinner and ceremony on Thursday 20th September at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh where a total prize pot of £160,000 and in-kind business support await the winners and runners up. 

The full list of finalists is;

Converge Challenge 

  • Carbogenics - University of Edinburgh
  • Cytochroma – University of Edinburgh
  • Kenoteq –Heriot Watt University
  • mycoBiologics –University of Aberdeen
  • MycoNourish –James Hutton Institute – Dundee
  • Teqnox –University of Strathclyde
  • Platinum Informatics –University of Dundee

KickStart

  • Silver Lion Innovations Ltd - University of Strathclyde
  • HiRes Solutions - Heriot-Watt University
  • Vector Photonics - University of Glasgow
  • ThermoDrone - Heriot-Watt University
  • AquaOmics - University of Highlands & Islands
  • Immernova -University of DundeeCrover Ltd - University of Edinburgh
  • SiMologics - University of Strathclyde
  • Infinect - Heriot-Watt University
  • Seawater Solutions - University of Strathclyde

Social Enterprise

  • One Cherry - University of Edinburgh
  • Lilypads - University of Edinburgh
  • criticalcarerecovery.com - Edinburgh Napier University
  • Youcan Recycling - Abertay University
  • CogniHealth - University of Edinburgh
  • Health Design Collective - Queen Margaret University



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