A Heriot-Watt team, DiverSense Ltd, has made it through to the final of the Converge Challenge, Scotland's biggest academic entrepreneurial showcase competition, taking place later this month.
The competition is open to students and staff of any Scottish university, giving them a chance to develop the commercial potential of their inventions. DiverSense Ltd, Led, offers a sensor system for composition analysis and quality control in three primary markets: food, oil & gas and chemical industries.
They will be facing stiff competition from teams from Dundee, St Andrews and Edinburgh universities and two teams from Strathclyde, all shortlisted from 111 entrants from across Scotland.
Professor Marc Desmulliez, Chief Technology Officer of DiverSense, said "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious competition, especially given the quality of entry it attracts. Our product allows for inline monitoring during the production process, ensuring continuous quality assurance without interrupting production. It also provides improved sensitivity compared with existing systems, and we believe it stands a good chance against the other Converge finalists and will go on to make an impact in the market."
Dr Olga Kozlova, director of Converge Challenge, said, "Invention and a strong 'can do' attitude have prevailed across our Universities down the years which reinforces the message that we remain a strong country full of entrepreneurial flair and vision for ideas creation, all actively encouraged by our universities.
"The Converge Challenge programme represents an opportunity for Scotland's students and researchers to develop their knowledge and commercial skills, but it is the growth that this national competition has enjoyed over the past five years that is so rewarding.
It's only when you look around the world and you see what other universities are doing to encourage a consistent flow of academic entrepreneurs that you realise Scotland can be proud of its achievements."