College of Edinburgh start-up agency EVA Biosystems has developed a plastic that’s described as having the ability to sense when it’s within the ocean and break itself down with out creating microplastics.
The answer secured prime prize within the SSE-sponsored Internet Zero class at this 12 months’s Converge Awards, an annual awards ceremony supposed to rejoice and reward Scottish educational innovation.
EVA Biosystems seemingly impressed judges with its novel method to tackling plastic air pollution, incomes a £30,000 money prize and £19,500 of in-kind enterprise assist from SSE and Converge’s community of business companions to develop the enterprise. The corporate additionally gained the IBioIC Award, a prize introduced to an progressive biotech enterprise with a product or course of that addresses an actual market want, netting £20,000 for the College of Edinburgh.
“We’re all battling plastic air pollution, and whereas there are a lot of folks creating biodegradable plastics, they’re too costly and solely make up about 1% of the world’s plastic,” stated Dr Alexander Speakman, founding father of EVA Biosystems. “Our know-how works with present plastics, making them ‘good’ sufficient to interrupt down once they find yourself the place they shouldn’t be, like in our oceans or landfills.”
EVA Biosystems’ innovation includes including particular micro organism to traditional plastics. These micro organism can detect once they’re in environments like seawater and activate enzymes that break down the plastic. Not like chemical degradation, which may create dangerous microplastics, E.V.A’s distinctive know-how can stop these waste merchandise. Based on latest analysis, as much as 12 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans yearly – the equal of greater than 100,000 blue whales.
The Create Change class, which focuses on inventive, social, and impact-driven enterprises, was gained by Ujamaa Spice, additionally from the College of Edinburgh. Based by Jawahir Al-Mauly, Ujamaa Spice is revolutionising the £17 billion world spice business by forging shut partnerships with smallholder farmers in Zanzibar and assuming full management of their provide chain. This method ensures distinctive high quality spices for UK shoppers whereas combating meals crime and exploitation within the business.
Within the KickStart class, designed for early-stage concepts, SEASAT from the College of Edinburgh secured prime prize. Based by Solomon White, SEASAT makes use of satellite tv for pc photographs and machine studying to watch coastal water circumstances, offering an early warning system for the aquaculture business. This permits fish farms to foretell and react to potential threats, enhancing their operational effectivity.
The Internet Zero class additionally noticed SolarSub from the College of Edinburgh as runner-up. Co-founded by Sebastiaan Schalkwijk and James Taylor, SolarSub has developed a extremely environment friendly cooling system for floating photo voltaic panels, addressing the problem of overheating and diminished effectivity in water-based photo voltaic farms.
PalmAlt from Queen Margaret College was certainly one of two runners-up within the KickStart class. Created by Catriona Liddle, PalmAlt provides a 100% alternative for palm oil-based shortening in bakery merchandise, addressing sustainability considerations whereas bettering dietary profiles.
Adam Kosterka, government director of Converge, commented on this 12 months’s cohort:
“The calibre of innovation rising from Scotland’s universities continues to be world-class. E.V.A. Biosystems, Ujamaa Spice, SEASAT, SolarSub, and PalmAlt are shining examples of how educational brilliance can result in groundbreaking options with world potential. These corporations will not be simply creating merchandise; they’re shaping a extra sustainable and inclusive future for Scotland and past.
“At Converge, we’re privileged to assist progressive college founders by offering them with the enterprise acumen and networks that complement their technical experience. Along with Scotland’s universities, we’re serving to to create an atmosphere the place transformative concepts can evolve into profitable companies, contributing to our nation’s popularity as a frontrunner of technological development and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes stated:
“Translating world-class analysis from our universities into new progressive applied sciences and companies is essential to delivering on Scotland’s Nationwide Innovation Technique to drive financial development.
“Converge performs a significant position in offering a supportive atmosphere for innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their concepts and join with traders, mentors and business leaders.
“I congratulate this 12 months’s winners, who’re addressing world challenges and bringing constructive change throughout the nation.”
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and a community of eight company companions, Converge works in partnership with 18 of Scotland’s universities. Since its launch in 2011, the programme has skilled over 670 aspiring founders and supported the creation of over 420 corporations that take pleasure in an above-average three-year survival charge of over 80% (as of 1 June 2024).
Open to college students, latest graduates, and workers, Converge helps new companies by means of intensive enterprise coaching, networking, 1-2-1 assist, beneficiant fairness free money prizes and skilled, skilled recommendation from its roster of business companions.
The complete record of Converge 2024 winners and runners-up is as follows:
Converge Problem winner
Undertaking InProcess
Identify Momchil Vasilev
College Strathclyde
Prize £50,000 money & £20,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Undertaking PCAD
Identify Anthony McGarry
College Strathclyde
Prize £20,000 money & £9,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Create Change Problem
Undertaking Ujamaa Spice
Identify Jawahir Al-Mauly
College Edinburgh
Prize £30,000 money & £10,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Undertaking KEPSoft Collaborative
Identify Vijay Luthra
College Glasgow
Prize £10,000 money & £5,000 in-kind enterprise assist
Internet Zero Problem
Undertaking E.V.A Biosystems
Identify Alexander Speakman
College Edinburgh
Prize £30,000 money & £19,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Undertaking SolarSub
Identify James Taylor
College Edinburgh
Prize £10,000 money & £9,500 in-kind enterprise assist
KickStart Problem
Undertaking SEASAT
Identify Solomon White
College Edinburgh
Prize £10,000 money
Undertaking Ovation Agriculture
Identify Jillian Gordon
College SRUC
Prize £7,500 money
Undertaking PalmAlt
Identify Catriona Liddle
College Queen Margaret
Prize £5,000 money
KickStart Entrepreneurial Spirit
Undertaking New-Discovered-Hope
Identify Nathan Dudley
College Dundee
Prize £5,000 money
BioIC Award
Undertaking E.V.A Biosystems
Identify Alexander Speakman
College Edinburgh
Prize £20,000 for the college the place the mission originated
Ventures Lab Award
Undertaking MosaIQ
Identify Sebastien Chastin
College Glasgow Caledonian
Prize £10,000 money
