Finalists for Converge 2020, Scotland’s top academic company creation programme, unveiled
The 18 fledgling ventures and a “wide range of exceptional innovation” from across the nation’s universities will be showcased later this month.
This year’s Converge final, due to take place on 24 September, will be staged virtually via a webcast.
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Hide AdIt gives the finalists across three of the four established Converge “challenges” – impact, creative and the flagship Converge category – extra impetus to make an impression as they each vie for a chance to win part of the £230,000 total prize fund of equity free cash and in-kind business support.
Claudia Cavalluzzo, director of Converge, said the event was an opportunity for Scotland’s academic community to throw open its arms to the rest of the world.
“For obvious reasons, our approach this year is different and wholeheartedly embraces the message that Scotland is an innovation powerhouse,” she added.
This year’s finalists are:
Converge Challenge
Brian Quinn - Aquaculture Health Laboratory - University of the West of Scotland
Barry Leaper - LiberEat - University of Aberdeen
Genevieve Patenaude - Earth Blox - University of Edinburgh
Desmond Gibson - Albasense Ltd - University of the West Scotland
Stuart Hannah - Microplate Dx - University of Strathclyde
Robyn Hickerson - Ten Bio - University of Dundee
Ross Gillanders – Lightwater Sensors - University of St Andrews
Eve Hanks - MI:RNA - SRUC
Creative Challenge
Elena Höge - Yaldi Games - University of Edinburgh
Lucy Fisher - Knit It - Robert Gordon University
Stephenie Pagulayan - ALICE Theatre Project - University of the Highlands and Islands
Robbie MacIsaac - MacIsaac Ltd - University of Strathclyde
Jonathan O'Neill - Make Your Own Musicals - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Impact Challenge
Dominic Gammon/Leia Kennedy - Aquaponics Garden – SRUC
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Hide AdBartosz Soltowski/Fraser Stewart – Connex Solar – University of Strathclyde
James Swinburne – Metacarpal – University of Strathclyde
Yanik Adam Nyberg -Seawater Solutions Ltd – University of Strathclyde
Laura Higham – Vet Sustain – University of Edinburgh
Converge is the largest company creation programme for Scotland’s higher education sector providing a platform for university staff, students and recent graduates to explore the commercial potential of their research, creativity and ideas.
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