The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Local universities rise to challenge
Projects with commercial potential arising from Dundee, Abertay and St Andrews universities have been named as finalists in a Scotland-wide company creation and entrepreneurship development competition.
A total of nine projects from across the three institutions will vie with more than 50 others for a slice of a total prize pot worth more than £160,000 this year.
Through its three award categories, Converge Challenge covers projects developing both new and established business ideas and those with a social or environmental impact.
The Dundee University entrants are Solasonach, Platinum Informatics, AJP Tech, Sea Turtle and Freedom Street Project.
Abertay also has a strong showing through TripleS for Developers, ICHOS, Youcan Recycling and Nikolai Zhelev’s stem-cell derived mini-hearts for drug testing project.
St Andrews University is represented by TRAFIX.
Professor Andrea Nolan, convener of Universities Scotland, said the standard of entries was tremendous.
“I am truly delighted to see the shortlisted Converge Challenge participants continue to raise the bar each year and produce pioneering and innovative products and services, from technology to robotics and health,” she said.
“The ambition of these 60 budding entrepreneurs is to change the lives of people here in Scotland and the rest of the world for the better through social good and inclusive solutions.
“I look forward to tracking the progress of these wonderful projects, which exemplify the excellence of our Scottish Universities and showcase the diversity of sectors they support.”