Four University of Edinburgh research projects have received a share of £2.92 million from the Scottish Government to help them to commercialise.
The projects – including a diagnostic blood test for endometriosis and the possibility of using routine eye tests to predict dementia risk - received a total of £744k in Proof of Concept funding.
Seventeen projects from seven different universities will benefit from the fund, piloted last year to support the process of turning ground-breaking research into products and services.
Dr Ian Holland, an Innovation Fellow in the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, received follow-on funding this year for his Rotational Internal Flow Layer Engineering (RIFLE) technology, which mimics vascular tissue in drug development, reducing the need for animal testing.
Dr Holland said:
The Scottish Government’s Proof of Concept funding has been instrumental in allowing us to elevate our unique tissue engineering technology, RIFLE, towards commercialisation, working with Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service.
Specifically, this has allowed us to build highly accurate human blood vessels that can be used for testing life-saving medicines, without the need to resort to animal experiments. We are delighted to have received follow-on support for this year, which will enable us to further align RIFLE tissue with the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. "
Proof of concept funding accelerates various aspects of the commercialisation process, from developing prototype products to undertaking market analysis and pitching to investors, working towards a spinout company or a licensed technology.
Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of EI, said:
Commercialisation of research is a clear route to economic and social impact, turning ideas into products and services that help meet the world’s most pressing challenges. But it’s not quick or easy, and proof of concept is a vital part of the funding mix in the early stages, to help validate the technology and de-risk it for investors and partners who can then carry it forward, bringing benefits for all. "
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism & Transport Stephen Flynn said:
The Scottish Government has now invested nearly £6 million over the last two years to realise the economic potential of more Scottish spinout companies starting and succeeding.
Scotland’s universities have been the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest ideas and inventions for centuries – ideas and inventions which have improved lives and solved problems across the world – and it is vital this innovation continues to be nurtured.”
University of Edinburgh projects being funded this year are:
