Wednesday 27th April 2016, 1:00pm
Greengage, a company specialising in lighting and control systems for the international poultry and pig industry, has become the University of Edinburgh’s first ever spin-in.
Greengage has a number of existing grant-funded research programmes with leading universities in England, but established their Greengage Scientific Advisory Panel at Roslin to focus on laying down the strategic scientific direction for the company’s future and to manage the industry trials that are being conducted together with brand leaders internationally.
Greengage relocated from London to the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush Campus at Roslin in late 2015.
The move allows Greengage to benefit from world-class precision agriculture research, led by Professor Malcolm Mitchell and Dr David Ross.
Par Equity, the Edinburgh-based venture capital firm, has led the first tranche of a £2.2 million fundraising by Greengage. This round, which was supported by Old College Capital and the Scottish Investment Bank, completed on 31st March 2016. The proceeds will be used to support sales growth and for investment in new product development.
“This was a first for OCC - being both a spin-in to the university and an in-revenue company that should help complement many of OCC's earlier stage investments.”
by Andrea Young at Old College CapitalIn addition to the advantages of relocating to Roslin, Greengage will also benefit from local proximity to Censis and DataLab, leading electronics and product design houses, as well as Edinburgh’s strong professional services firms, such as IP firm Marks & Clark, which is helping to build the company’s patent portfolio. With the appointment of a new Head of Engineering, the company is in the process of examining whether the manufacturing of certain products in the range would benefit from being re-shored from China. Over the medium term, the company hopes to make a significant positive contribution to the the high-tech eco-system in Scotland.
The Company, has been fortunate to attract both Philip Wilkinson OBE as Chairman and Steve Parsons as CEO - both of whom have accumulated significant experience in the agricultural science, poultry and food industry.
John Mackenzie, CEO of Roslin Innovation Centre, also welcomed Greengage, which is the first commercial entity to commit to the Centre, which is scheduled to open in summer 2017.
“Greengage is a role model tenant and exactly the type of innovative company we are looking to attract. The Roslin Innovation Centre will provide Greengage and other companies with top class facilities and access to strategic research opportunities."
View the Greengage website for further information or please contact:
e: steve.parsons@agrilamp.comRoslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
