As COP30 convenes in Belém, Brazil, the focus shifts from negotiation to tangible action. With themes spanning adaptation, resilience and transformation across energy, finance and urban systems, this year’s summit calls for global cooperation – a true Mutirão.
Close to home, entrepreneurs from the University of Edinburgh are already embodying that spirit, turning ideas into impactful solutions for people and the planet.
Our Venture Creation team helps University of Edinburgh staff, students and graduates turn bold ideas into real-world impact. We work with you to explore the potential of your research or innovation – from early concepts to viable ventures – and to unlock the pathways that can bring your ideas to life. Through Old College Capital, the University’s venture investment fund, we back many of the pioneering companies emerging from our community, helping them grow and make a lasting difference.
Spun out from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering in 2024, CGEN Engineering is pioneering modular generator technology designed to make renewable energy systems more efficient, reliable and adaptable. Its innovative generator design reduces lifecycle costs, simplifies maintenance and enables scalable deployment across wind, wave and tidal energy. By embedding modularity and durability at the heart of its engineering, CGEN is helping power a more resilient and sustainable clean energy future.
Spun out from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, SeaWarm is developing modular, low-cost heat exchange technology that harnesses the natural warmth of rivers, lochs and seawater to provide affordable, sustainable heating and cooling. The system can cut CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to oil and gas, offering a practical pathway to decarbonise heat for coastal communities and businesses.
Spun out from the University of Edinburgh’s UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, Concinnity Genetics is redefining the safety and precision of gene therapies. Combining expertise in synthetic biology with cutting-edge AI, the company designs RNA-based control systems that allow therapies to be precisely regulated even after dosing. This technology has the potential to make advanced treatments safer, more effective and more widely accessible – accelerating progress toward cures for currently untreatable diseases.
Founded by a School of Engineering graduate, Aeroflow is developing shape-shifting aerodynamic trailers that dramatically reduce drag and fuel consumption in heavy goods vehicles. Its patented, adaptable trailer design can cut aerodynamic drag by up to 33%, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions across diesel, electric and hydrogen fleets alike. By combining engineering ingenuity with real-world practicality, Aeroflow is helping the transport industry move toward a cleaner, more efficient future.
Founded by a bioengineering PhD graduate, E.V.A. Biosystems is developing next-generation degradable packaging to tackle plastic pollution. Using synthetic biology, the company creates bioplastics that selectively break down in response to environmental conditions, combining the benefits of conventional plastics with improved sustainability and end-of-life outcomes. E.V.A. Biosystems is translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that reduce landfill and ocean waste while remaining compatible with existing manufacturing processes.
Founded by PhD graduate, Raygonal is transforming aquaculture with its AI-powered, renewable-energy-driven system; Aquary. Designed to produce fresh, sustainable and antibiotic-free seafood, the technology address overfishing, harmful farming practices and long supply chains. Currently piloting in Africa and a vision for global expansion, Raygonal is developing scalable solutions that bring seafood production closer to consumption, reduce transportation emissions and deliver high-quality, environmentally responsible food.
