Three Tayside and Fife entrepreneurial academics won funding of more than £100,000 at Scotland’s top enterprise awards.
X-Genix, a biotech start-up in the process of spinning out from the University of St Andrews, was named the overall converge challenge winner.
It was founded by professor Rebecca Goss, who claimed the top prize of £69,000.
X-Genix is revolutionising the way that medicines are made and is in talks with global pharmaceutical companies with the aim of accelerating drug discovery.
The business is set to be based at St Andrews University’s Eden Campus.
Innovative software for eye diseases
She pipped Dundee University professor Emanuele Trucco to the top award.
Mr Trucco won £29,000 for finishing in second place with his Eye to the Future business.
It is a spin-out company developing innovative software for the early detection of eye diseases.
Meanwhile Dundee University graduate Nick Fitzpatrick received a £5,000 prize in the Converge KickStart Wellbeing award.
The prize will allow him to develop his business Inclu, creating inclusively designed kitchen products.
They were among the winners at the awards ceremony in Edinburgh on Thursday evening.
Software to detect eye conditions
Eye to the Future is a planned spin-off from the universities of Dundee and Edinburgh.
It builds on 20 years of joint research and expertise on retinal image and data analysis.
The software developed by Mr Trucco and partners enables the early detection of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, from a simple eye exam.
He said: “We have identified a clear, precise market need for optometrists globally to be able to more efficiently diagnosis and refer patients with eye conditions to secondary care or manage them in a community setting.
“Our software product addresses this need.
“The converge process has already created much visibility for the company and provided excellent training and support.
“The award will contribute to employing part-time our technical team, as we work on achieving the seed round of investment.”
Inclusively designed kitchen products
Meanwhile, Inclu builds on work previously done by Nick as part of his final-year studies at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design.
The business creates inclusively designed kitchen products.
They allow users of various abilities to independently operate the products without any stigma.
Nick came up with the idea to remove barriers of separation and stigmas that are attached with other assistive technologies.
“The prize will be hugely useful as we continue to work on the design of our inclusive products,” Nick said.
“The funding gives us access to more manufacturing methods and materials to experiment with.
“It’s great to have this financial backing.
“It lets us explore more innovative options that will allow us to make a big impact on how people of all abilities can live independently.
“I’m more motivated than ever to keep pushing forward.”
Executive director at Converge Claudia Cavalluzzo said the judges were left “in awe” by the finalists.
She added: “Our 15 winners and runners-up have created game-changing innovations that will make a real difference to health, the environment, society, and more.”
Conversation