This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Proof of concept scheme awards
28/02/2003
The latest awards under round four of the Proof of Concept scheme have been announced.
Enterprise Minister Iain Gray said he was delighted that 35 awards totalling £5.6 million are being made to 14 universities and research institutions in Scotland.
The objectives of the Fund are:
- To improve the level and quality of commercialisation through the provision of funding for early stage development activity within Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS trusts.
- To contribute to the development of Scotland's clusters by facilitating the exploitation of enabling technologies from within the fundamental and strategic research base.
- To contribute to the longer-term development of a strong, knowledge-based economy in Scotland.
Mr Gray said:
"We are determined to ensure Scotland's impressive record of scientific and academic innovation is built upon to drive the nation's economy further forward on the international stage.
"Encouraging the creation of more innovative businesses in Scotland is key to our future economic prosperity. In order to ensure our university research ideas are brought to the fore and commercialised into market opportunities, we have developed a pipeline of support, such as Proof of Concept, Smart, Spur, Spur Plus and Regional Selective Assistance, for innovative companies.
"I am therefore delighted to announce the latest round of Proof of Concept funding which is helping to boost our nation's scientific reputation and economic potential."
Full details about the scheme - as well as breakdowns of the winning projects can be found at: www.scottish-enterprise.com/proofofconcept.
The winning project titles are:
- University of Glasgow: Diagnostic Test for ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
- Scottish Crop Research Institute: ViraTech: A platform technology for the safe biological assessment of pesticides
- University of Dundee: Stop the rot
- University of Strathclyde: Parasitic worm secretes therapeutic anti inflammatory
- University of Aberdeen: A new drug target for treating liver fibrosis
- Napier University: Microbial Devulcanisation And Recycling Of Rubber From Used Vehicle Tyres (DART)
- University of Strathclyde: Superbugs meet their nemesis
- University of Glasgow: Improved method of male fertility testing
- University of Dundee: Innovative hearing implant
- University of Edinburgh: Protein microarray for blood screening
- University of Edinburgh: A system to increase cell production for use in drug manufacture
- University of Dundee: VISPATH Vision based internet software platform for applied tracking of humans
- University of Abertay: Game Localisation Engine
- Robert Gordon University: Enhancing production in oil and gas
- University of Edinburgh: Hydrocarbon detection and monitoring using a new electromagnetic method
- University of St Andrews: Combined tidal stream/ reversible hydrogen system for balanced renewable generation
- University of St Andrews: Efficient hydrogen generation for transmission and storage of renewable energy
- Rowett Research Institute: Putting the brake on belching bovines
- Scottish Crop Research Institute: A smart screen for wood properties
- University of Strathclyde: Automated low cost mixed signal testing
- University of Strathclyde: Logical image processing
- Glasgow School of Art SmartFingers
- Napier University: Evolving artificial traders for successful market trading
- Robert Gordon University: Detecting heavy metals in contaminated land
- University of Edinburgh: Foreign language eLearning using automatic speech recognition
- University of Strathclyde: An improved route to nanocrystalline materials
- Heriot-Watt University: Next-generation thermoelectric coolers and power generators through materials design
- University of Abertay: Environmental Clean-up: New method for purifying water polluted with organic compounds
- University of Paisley: Ultrawideband ultrasonic transducers
- University of St Andrews: Next generation of photonic microcircuit technology
- University of Glasgow: Breath monitoring using laser spectroscopy to screen for lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
- University of Glasgow: Multibit photons increased data density in free space optical communications
- Heriot-Watt University: Optical field encryption for secure telecommunications
- University of Aberdeen: Human derived repellents against midges
- University of Edinburgh: Biological "waste disposal" to improve production of biopharmaceuticals