College of Edinburgh start-up agency EVA Biosystems has developed a plastic that’s described as with the ability to sense when it’s within the ocean and break itself down with out creating microplastics.
The answer secured high prize within the SSE-sponsored Web Zero class at this 12 months’s Converge Awards, an annual awards ceremony meant to rejoice and reward Scottish tutorial 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 received the IBioIC Award, a prize introduced to an revolutionary 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 combating 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,” mentioned Dr Alexander Speakman, founding father of EVA Biosystems. “Our expertise works with present plastics, making them ‘sensible’ sufficient to interrupt down after they find yourself the place they shouldn’t be, like in our oceans or landfills.”
EVA Biosystems’ innovation entails including particular micro organism to traditional plastics. These micro organism can detect after they’re in environments like seawater and activate enzymes that break down the plastic. In contrast to chemical degradation, which might create dangerous microplastics, E.V.A’s distinctive expertise can stop these waste merchandise. In response to 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 artistic, social, and impact-driven enterprises, was received by Ujamaa Spice, additionally from the College of Edinburgh. Based by Jawahir Al-Mauly, Ujamaa Spice is revolutionising the £17 billion international 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 customers 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 high prize. Based by Solomon White, SEASAT makes use of satellite tv for pc photographs and machine studying to watch coastal water situations, 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 Web 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 affords a 100% alternative for palm oil-based shortening in bakery merchandise, addressing sustainability considerations whereas bettering dietary profiles.
Adam Kosterka, govt 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 tutorial brilliance can result in groundbreaking options with international potential. These firms aren’t simply creating merchandise; they’re shaping a extra sustainable and inclusive future for Scotland and past.
“At Converge, we’re privileged to assist revolutionary 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 surroundings 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 mentioned:
“Translating world-class analysis from our universities into new revolutionary applied sciences and companies is vital to delivering on Scotland’s Nationwide Innovation Technique to drive financial development.
“Converge performs a significant function in offering a supportive surroundings for innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their concepts and join with buyers, mentors and business leaders.
“I congratulate this 12 months’s winners, who’re addressing international challenges and bringing optimistic 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 firms that get pleasure from an above-average three-year survival fee of over 80% (as of 1 June 2024).
Open to college students, latest graduates, and employees, Converge helps new companies by intensive enterprise coaching, networking, 1-2-1 assist, beneficiant fairness free money prizes and professional, skilled recommendation from its roster of business companions.
The complete listing of Converge 2024 winners and runners-up is as follows:
Converge Problem winner
Challenge InProcess
Identify Momchil Vasilev
College Strathclyde
Prize £50,000 money & £20,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Challenge PCAD
Identify Anthony McGarry
College Strathclyde
Prize £20,000 money & £9,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Create Change Problem
Challenge Ujamaa Spice
Identify Jawahir Al-Mauly
College Edinburgh
Prize £30,000 money & £10,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Challenge KEPSoft Collaborative
Identify Vijay Luthra
College Glasgow
Prize £10,000 money & £5,000 in-kind enterprise assist
Web Zero Problem
Challenge E.V.A Biosystems
Identify Alexander Speakman
College Edinburgh
Prize £30,000 money & £19,500 in-kind enterprise assist
Challenge SolarSub
Identify James Taylor
College Edinburgh
Prize £10,000 money & £9,500 in-kind enterprise assist
KickStart Problem
Challenge SEASAT
Identify Solomon White
College Edinburgh
Prize £10,000 money
Challenge Ovation Agriculture
Identify Jillian Gordon
College SRUC
Prize £7,500 money
Challenge PalmAlt
Identify Catriona Liddle
College Queen Margaret
Prize £5,000 money
KickStart Entrepreneurial Spirit
Challenge New-Discovered-Hope
Identify Nathan Dudley
College Dundee
Prize £5,000 money
BioIC Award
Challenge E.V.A Biosystems
Identify Alexander Speakman
College Edinburgh
Prize £20,000 for the college the place the mission originated
Ventures Lab Award
Challenge MosaIQ
Identify Sebastien Chastin
College Glasgow Caledonian
Prize £10,000 money
