Top 60 Converge Challenge 2018 shortlist announced!
Following record-breaking entries to this year’s Converge Challenge, the leading Top 60 projects from Scottish Universities and Research Institutes include a range of innovative ideas covering women’s health, virtual reality, renewables and sustainability, demonstrating that Scotland’s pipeline for new and innovative businesses is robust and healthier than ever before.
The three Converge Challenge award categories are:
- Converge Challenge – for those with an established idea
- KickStart – for early stage ideas
- Social Enterprise – for ideas focussing on social and environmental issues
Cybercrime, virtual reality, robotics and social inclusion are topics and issues that surround us every day, and the innovative minds of Scotland’s Academia have risen to the challenge with products and services that meet these societal needs.
The impact of the Design and Creativity award, introduced in 2016, is demonstrated in the success of such innovative products as wheelAIR – a battery powered cushion for wheelchair users enabling them to exercise safely. The 2018 shortlist includes a proposition that that brings together health and design with aesthetically pleasing footwear for people with foot drop due to Multiple Sclerosis or a stroke.
A trend displayed in the shortlist, and making up over 30% of entries, is the shift towards sustainable solutions to a range of challenges – reducing consumption, re-using more products and recycling waste. The Top 60 includes innovative software which is designed to improve the overall energy conversion efficiency of wind, hydro and tidal energy turbines.
Both technology and health sectors stand out this year as a major focus for entries. This includes a ground-breaking ultrasound detection system to evaluate the response to medical treatment responses in days rather than months, resulting in earlier discovery and quicker treatment. Also shortlisted is a low cost, non-invasive, digital home test to help women monitor their own gynecological health and a novel electronic skin, which enables robots to sense and feel like a human does with their own skin.
Professor Andrea Nolan O.B.E., Convener of Universities Scotland, said:
“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.
“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.”
As participants progress to the Top 60 they will benefit from a range of opportunities and an extensive programme of support that is critical to enable them to further develop their business propositions. Benefits of the programme include: 1-2-1 bespoke advice; enhanced business and pitch training; hands-on mentoring; and a total prize fund of over £160,000 of cash and in-kind business support for the winners.
A stand out aspect of Converge Challenge is that previous applicants are encouraged to reapply, which is central to the nurturing ethos that is fundamental and unique to the programme.
Converge Challenge 2017 winner Dave Hughes of novosound, University of the West of Scotland said:
“Winning Converge Challenge 2017 helped move novosound to the next level because of the intensive and inspiring support we received throughout the Challenge.
“The 2018 participants are about to embark on a fantastic and vital programme which will really test them but will give them the toolkit and entrepreneurial skills to help them bring their ideas and products to a much wider network.”
Converge Challenge 2018
The full list of shortlisted projects are below:
| Name | Project | University / Research Institute |
| Elijah Nazarzadeh | Acu-Wave | University of Glasgow |
| Liam Mc Morrow | Adelie Health | University of Aberdeen |
| Martina Zupan | Alterwaste Ltd | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Iain Gardner | Animation Garden | Queen Margaret University |
| Jan Mumme | Carbogenics Ltd | University of Edinburgh |
| Kate Cameron | Cytochroma | University of Edinburgh |
| Nikolai Zhelev | HeartWise Technologies | Abertay University |
| Christos Michalakos | ICHOS | Abertay University |
| Ifeyinwa Kanu | IntelliDigest Ltd | Heriot-Watt University |
| Muhammad Arslan Khalid | iVisco | University of Glasgow |
| Samuel Chapman | Kenoteq | Heriot-Watt University |
| Joan Kangro | Kingdom | University of Glasgow |
| Richard McAdam | McAdam Technology | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Fiona Rudkin | mycoBiologics | University of Aberdeen |
| Peter Orrell | MycoNourish | James Hutton Institute |
| Atif Syed | Wootzano Ltd | University of Edinburgh |
| Angus Lamond | Platinum Informatics | University of Dundee |
| Juan Pablo Echenique | Power Enable Solutions | University of Edinburgh |
| Marc Reid | SafeSite VR | University of Strathclyde |
| Jennifer Laughlin | Solasonach | University of Dundee |
| Murray Collins | Space Intelligence | University of Edinburgh |
| Stephen Roe | Stageport LTD | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
| Andrew Davidson | BulbPD | University of Stirling |
| Lysimachos Zografos | Taka Apps | University of Edinburgh |
| Carmen Cummiskey | Teqnox Limited | University of Strathclyde |
| Tayyaba Nafees | Cybershell Solutions | Abertay University |
| William Huber | Summer Jam | Abertay University |
| Jake Elliott-Hook | YAIA | Queen Margaret University |
KickStart 2018
The full list of shortlisted projects are below:
| Name | Project | University / Research Institute |
| Richard Taylor | Advanced Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers | University of Glasgow |
| Atanas Chilingirov | AJP Tech | University of Dundee |
| Mary Doherty | AquaOmics | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Mohsin Laginaf | B4SPORT | University of Stirling |
| David White | BGR Training Ltd | University of Strathclyde |
| Michael McPhillimy | Clyde Built Putters | University of Strathclyde |
| Matthew Carter | Colour Academy | University of Strathclyde |
| Lorenzo Conti | Crover | University of Edinburgh |
| Maria Hussain | Development of custom made bras | Queen Margaret University |
| Vassilis Sboros | HiRes Solutions | Heriot-Watt University |
| Carolina Mateo-Segura | InfiNect | Heriot-Watt University |
| David Scott | Pivotal Reality Ltd | University of Strathclyde |
| Yanik Nyberg | Scottish Samphire | University of Strathclyde |
| Xiaoxiao Zhang | Sea Turtle | University of Dundee |
| Alexander Birks | SecondPerspective | Heriot-Watt University |
| Pooja Katara | SENSEcity | Glasgow School of Art |
| Ruth McLaren | Silver Lion Innovations | University of Strathclyde |
| Mohammed Al Qaraghuli | SiMologics | University of Strathclyde |
| Anya Roy | Syrona Women | University of Edinburgh |
| Simone Mattsson | ThermoDrone | Heriot-Watt University |
Social Enterprise 2018
The full list of shortlisted projects are below:
| Name | Project | University / Research Institute |
| Nigel G Honey | Ability Film and TV Training | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
| Ben Durack | Advanced low volume production using recycled polymers | Robert Gordon University |
| Hannah Buckland | Automation for Africa | University of Strathclyde |
| Pranav Shakti Chauhan | CogniHealth | University of Edinburgh |
| Pam Ramsay | criticalcarerecovery.com | Edinburgh Napier University |
| Kayleigh MacKinnon | Freedom Street Project | University of Dundee |
| Kavi Jagadamma | Health Design Collective | Queen Margaret University |
| Anna Strong | Innova Cafe | University of Aberdeen |
| Alison Wood | Lilypads | University of Edinburgh |
| Lynette Nabbosa | Moving Margins | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Anton Puzorjov | One Cherry Ltd | University of Edinburgh |
| Saskia Goeres | Sofa for Life | Glasgow School of Art |
| Thomas Bayne | Youcan Recycling | Abertay University |