open for business

Highlights from the heart of an expanding Campus

Roslin Innovation Centre has been ‘open for business’  for over four years, since August 2017.  Our unique business gateway to innovation continues to nurture entrepreneurship, growth and collaboration within the dynamic environment of Easter Bush Campus. 

Occupancy is now at the optimal target of 85%, with 31 tenant companies ranging from established local and international organisations, start-ups and spin-outs, to community interest companies. 

Highlights - year 5

decEMBer 2021

Kate Cameron, CEO Cytochroma in lab at Roslin Innovation Centre

investment to accelerate drug development

Cytochroma Ltd, led by founder and CEO Dr Kate Cameron, has secured nearly £1 million to further commercialise its drug discovery technology and to scale up the team and facilities. 

Investment has been generated through multiple grants from Scottish Enterprise and Innovate UK and follows an investment round led by Angel Academe, alongside fellow female-focused group Investing Women Angels and Cambridge Capital Group.

Based at Roslin Innovation Centre, Cytochroma accelerate the rate of new drug development, reducing the need for animal testing and identify novel therapeutics for a global population. The company uses robotics to manufacture and test genetically diverse mini-livers to identify novel medicines faster and more efficiently and has also built a diverse induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) library, which contains backgrounds of ethnic groups that are currently underrepresented in clinical trials. 


Roslin Innovation Centre exterior on The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus

More than Policies: Bricks, Mortar, and Entrepreneurship

In a European Business Review article, authors David Johnson and John Mackenzie, CEO of Roslin Innovation Centre, discuss the business innovation gateway to the University of Edinburgh Easter Bush Campus. They explore the role of the built environment in driving science commercialisation and UCEE development, and suggest important recommendations for stakeholders responsible for fostering entrepreneurial activities and challenged with developing high-growth UCEEs.

Science commercialisation activities at the university-industry boundary are key drivers to high-growth, sustainable University-Centred Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. To support the commercialisation of university science, universities have invested in their built environment, including the construction of innovation centres. 

NOVEMBer 2021

Carus Animal Health logo

WeLCOMe to CARUS ANIMAL HEALTH 

Carus Animal Health, a leading veterinary innovation specialists, joins us at Roslin Innovation Centre as a new tenant, providing the company with opportunities on Campus for collaboration with academia and early stage companies.

Carus Animal Health have partnerships in  UK, Europe and North America, developing and adapting pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices for treatment and care of companion animals 

The company is committed to researching, identifying and developing novel and emerging technologies that have application in the animal health environment. The company's  interests extend to include active programmes in the field of alternatives to antibiotics, diagnostics and digital and data services in companion animals, production animals and aquaculture. 



Carus Animal Health logo

the journey to change - science and innovation

As part of COP26, VisitScotland Business Events created a podcast series to discuss how the issues of change and sustainability affect the business events sector and how business events can help bring about the change that we need. 

In Episode 14, Patrick Lamont speaks with John MacKenzie, CEO of Roslin Innovation Centre and Professor George Crooks OBE, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), discuss how events instigate and promote innovation, and to learn how two of Scotland's leading Innovation Centres are approaching COP26 and the areas in which they will look to change and adapt.



Beta Bugs Ltd launch Beta Buzz, a new insect farming industry publication

launch of beta buzz 

Beta Bugs Ltd has launched a new insect farming industry publication to communicate and highlight the benefits of the growth of the insect farming industry and to address some questions raised regarding the black soldier fly.

Insect farming involves breeding, rearing, and harvesting insects which can be used for a number of purposes, including a protein rich ingredient for animal feed. Adopting insects as feed plays a role in cultivating a circular economy approach in food production, while vastly improving the sustainability and self-sufficiency of the aquaculture and livestock sector globally. 

The farming of black soldier flies help to combat three major areas contributing to our damaged climate - food waste, deforestation, carbon emissions.

october 2021

Beta Bugs Ltd featured in Scottish Field

pioneering green innovations 

Beta Bugs Ltd, an insect genetics company, are featured as one of Scotland’s’ pioneering green innovative companies in the November issue of Scottish Field, as part of a focus on green innovations that have either come from Scots or are being pioneered in Scotland. 

From their base at Roslin Innovation Centre, Beta Bugs provide black soldier flies to the insect farming sector as an alternative source of protein in aquaculture and animal feed, providing an environment friendly alternative to soy meal and fish meal which causes deforestation and overfishing.

The flies are reared on agriculture and food waste and are genetically improved to enable them to be reared on a larger scale to meet demand.


Greengage LED lighting

greengage reach agri t-jam finals

Greengage Ltd was a finalist in the Tesco Agri T-Jam, announced at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in September.

Over 150 applications were received so this was a great achievement to be selected as one of the eight finalists to be showcased. Greengage develop innovative lighting and welfare sensor technology that delivers outcome-based measures for animal welfare.

At the Agri T-Jam Final, a virtual event on October 18th, a pitching and Q&A session took place in front of a judging committee, supply chain partners and Tesco colleagues. This was followed by a public showcase webinar to a global audience when the 2021 winner - Crop Intellect - was announced. 

september 2021

Data Driven Entrepreneurship AI cohort in the Bayes Centre

acCelerating intelligent ENTREPRENEURS

Twelve teams of artificial intelligence entrepreneurs will begin a six-month AI Accelerator – part of a wider Data Driven Entrepreneurship programme at The University of Edinburgh. The purpose of the programme is to help AI-driven startups with high growth potential to set foundations to become world-leading companies, creating jobs and economic and societal benefit.

The Accelerator’s new cohort was selected from 66 applicants worldwide and includes two Roslin Innovation Centre-based tenant companies: Carcinotech Ltd, a MedTech company reinventing cancer research by manufacturing 3D-printed tumours; and aquaculture innovators Pulcea Ltd, a novel venture harnessing marine physics, data, and AI for the development of innovative technologies to improve the health and welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon.


Wobble Genomics team outside Rosin Innovation Centre

wobble genomics growth

Wobble Genomics has raised a £1.2 million investment round led by Eos Advisory.  The investment will support expansion of the team hosted at Roslin Innovation Centre, strengthen company IP and will help to drive sales and demonstrate the company's ability to improve clinical outcomes.

Wobble Genomics is a spin-out of the Roslin Institute, providing biochemical and bioinformatic solutions for gene biomarker discovery. 

The team specialise in maximising RNA and DNA sequencing efficiency for the discovery and detection of nucleic acid biomarkers, combining biochemistry with bioinformatics to provide integrated solutions.  
 


"Restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19 made 2020/21 another challenging year for all of us and required Roslin Innovation Centre to implement new ways of working and operating within our public areas, lab and office space for the safety of colleagues, tenants and visitors. 

"Despite a very difficult couple of years for us all, Roslin Innovation Centre has proved to be very Covid-19 resilient, and has continued with some great business under circumstances not quite as usual! "

John Mackenzie, CEO, Roslin Innovation Centre


Year Four Highlights

Year Three Highlights

Year Two Highlights

Year One Highlights

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