News
Converge appoints new executive director
Converge has appointed Adam Kosterka as its new executive director, as the organisation prepares to launch its 2025 programme.
He has been serving as interim director since August, following the departure of Claudia Cavalluzzo, and brings experience in innovation and enterprise development to the permanent role.
Source: Business Insider
Unleashing start-up talent
A package of measures to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses will be delivered next year with funding in the draft Scottish Budget 2025/26. As part of £15 million investment, at least £4 million will be invested to expand the number of women entrepreneurs by providing tailored support at the earliest stages of business creation.
What Was Life Like for Innovating UK Businesses in 2024
Innovate UK has released its State of Innovation 2024 survey, drawing on data from over 2,000 UK firms to provide a thorough breakdown of UK businesses’ innovation activities, including their priorities, challenges, and plans for the year ahead.
Source: Digit News
Discover the new Agri Hub on Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian Science Business Forum guests received an introduction to the new Agri-Tech Hub for Data-Driven Innovation (DDI), part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal, and learned how this has evolved as well as the exciting opportunities for future development, collaboration, innovation and talent building.
US robotics and AI pioneer opens research base in Scotland
Scottish Enterprise has supported Los Angeles-based Launchpad Build Inc to open a global research and development hub in this country.
The new R&D hub will drive the development of Launchpad’s proprietary advanced robotics technology, Digitool, which aims to transform global manufacturing by reducing production costs and time to market.
Source: The Herald
W2W aims to increase Scottish female angel investor numbers
Scotland’s first all-female business angel syndicate, Investing Women Angels (IWA), and its sister organisation AccelerateHER have launched a new initiative designed to attract more businesswomen into angel investing – an imperative in addressing the equity gap between male and female-led companies.
Japan trade envoy shows Scotland aims high in investment
"Scotland is open for business. We have phenomenal talent, abundant natural resources and a world-renowned reputation for innovation on which to capitalise." says Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead, on the appointment of Scotland's first trade envoy to Japan.
Source: The Herald
Secretary of State for Scotland visits innovation hubs
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, marked his first official visit to the University of Edinburgh by touring some of its world-leading research and innovation sites. Mr Murray, a Social Policy and Law alum from the University, was welcomed to Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) and the Roslin Institute to learn more about their ground-breaking work.
Green Bioactives awarded £100,000 Scottish Enterprise SMART grant to propel biomanufacturing innovation in personal care
Green Bioactives (GBL), a pioneering world-class company in the discovery, development and sustainable production of high value plant-based products, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a £100,000 Scottish Enterprise SMART grant.
Green Bioactives awarded prestigious Innovate UK grant to develop revolutionary biomanufacturing platform
Green Bioactives (GBL), a world-leader in the discovery, development and sustainable production of high-value natural products using its proprietary plant cell culture technology, announced that it has been awarded a significant grant from Innovate UK, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh