News
Ingenza partners with HydRegen to advance sustainable biomanufacturing
Ingenza has partnered with Oxford-based biotech company HydRegen to develop a more sustainable and cost-effective method for manufacturing amine-based chemicals, eliminating the need for heavy metal catalysts. The company turned to Ingenza to help improve the expression levels of a new candidate biocatalyst, increasing process efficiency and resource use.
Genomics study to help retain diversity in UK sheep
Insights into the genetic makeup of UK native sheep breeds can help to preserve their beneficial traits, especially of rarer native breeds, which have fallen to low numbers, a study has shown.
The outcomes could help preserve a diversity of characteristics found in sheep breeds from the UK, including many versatile types of fleece, the ability to seasonally shed, and the hardiness to thrive in harsh environments.
Lightbulb moment for fungi scientists
Researchers from SRUC and the Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) St Gallen, Switzerland have successfully inserted the decay fungus Desarmillaria tabescens – a white rot fungus – into balsa wood to make it glow, with the aim of producing functionality.
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.
Biotangents set to revolutionise dairy farming industry as investment round announced
Technology developed by Scottish biotech Biotangents, which has announced its latest investment round, is set to revolutionise the dairy farming industry with the world’s fastest on-farm, point-of-care diagnostic device aimed at addressing disease in dairy cows. Bovine mastitis alone is estimated to cost the global dairy farming industry around £20 billion every year, costing the average UK dairy farm up to £25,000 per annum.
Scottish biotech secures £2.3 million investment
Biotangents has secured £2.3m in a funding round led by Eos and British Business Investments, alongside existing investors Kelvin Capital and Scottish Enterprise and will commence on-farm trials across the UK and internationally later next year.
Based on the Pentland Science Park in Midlothian Science Zone, the innovative animal health diagnostics company claims to be developing the world’s fastest on-farm, point-of-care diagnostic device for addressing disease in dairy cows.
Source: Business Insider
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
Call to ‘turn up the dial’ as Edinburgh University unveils record-breaking stats
Edinburgh University’s commercialisation arm has unveiled record-breaking annual results including the launch of 127 companies.
The latest report also shows that Edinburgh Innovations filed 140 patents during the financial year 2023/24, while £141 million was invested into university-associated companies.
Source: The Scotsman
Investment Fund for Scotland surpasses £10 million in its first year
The British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland has committed more than £10m of funding to smaller businesses in Scotland during its first 12 months.
This anniversary comes as Midlothian Science Zone-based Ingenza, a biotechnology research business, has secured funding for expansion which will double its capacity and create up to 20 new jobs.
Source: Business Insider
Scotland continues to spearhead green job creation
Scotland continues to lead the way in the creation of green jobs, with new data showing the number of green roles advertised has tripled since 2021. The fourth iteration of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer sees Scotland take the top spot again for the highest proportion of green job adverts of any of the UK’s nations and regions; at 5.6%.
Source: Business Insider