News
Moredun and James Hutton Institutes combine forces for Science in Shetland
In the remote Shetland Islands, finding hands-on lab science educational opportunities can be challenging. However, thanks to Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions (SEFARI) funding, teams from the Moredun and James Hutton Institutes recently brought an exciting week of animal health science to Shetland’s Junior High Schools and local communities.
Stress Busting - the 1, 2, 3 Approach
As we wind down or race around in preparation of the festive season, what better time for Midlothian Science Zone to host a Business Forum that focussed on how to approach and overcome stress - with guest speaker Kate Flory from Kapow Coaching.
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
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