News
Edinburgh University spinout Exergy3 raises £10m to turn wasted wind power into industrial heat
Exergy3 has closed a £10m seed round to commercialise technology that converts curtailed renewable electricity into high-temperature heat for industrial use, tackling grid waste and factory emissions in one go.
The Edinburgh University spinout has developed modular thermal energy storage units that take surplus power, such as wind generation the grid cannot absorb in real time, and deliver process heat at temperatures ranging from 50°C to 1,200°C.
Source: UK Investor Magazine
Innovative research suggests Bass Rock gannet colony may be stabilising after avian flu outbreak
New research is shedding light on the health of one of the UK’s most important seabird colonies, suggesting it may be stabilising after the devastating 2022 avian flu outbreak. A team from the Scottish Seabird Centre, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology are using cutting-edge technology to better understand one of the world’s largest northern gannet colonies on Bass Rock.
‘Step-change’ for UK’s digital horsepower
A major new compute investment could accelerate the progress of astronomers exploring the mysteries of the universe, chemists searching for cancer-killing drugs, and historians analysing archives.
The £76m investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is set to enhance the UK’s computing and AI capability.
DDI programme publishes latest annual report
The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University’s Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) initiative has published its latest Annual Review, highlighting achievements from the academic year 2024-25.
Twelve case studies feature in the review, covering start-ups and spin-outs, research, and partnerships delivering positive impacts for a range of industry sectors.
Native Scottish species under threat from disease and warming climate
Wildcats, puffins and trees such as the European Ash will be under critical threat without greater conservation measures, according to a “genetic scorecard” developed by scientists across Scotland.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh and NatureScot have led the development of the most comprehensive analysis yet of the genetic health of Scotland’s native wild species.
Source: The Scotsman
Dog food accounts for 1% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, study finds
Dog food accounts for 1% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to research that found wet, raw and meat-rich products were associated with substantially higher emissions than dry kibble.
Source: The Guardian
$14.9m award supports data-driven livestock development
A $14.9 million grant will strengthen work on livestock data insights by SEBI-Livestock, hosted at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
The five-year Evidence into Action (EnAct) grant from the Gates Foundation will enhance the work of the SEBI-Livestock team, which has collaborated with the Gates Foundation to monitor the impact of the foundation’s livestock investments for almost a decade.
Venture Café Edinburgh Launch Signals New Chapter For Scottish Innovation
Scotland’s innovation community has a vibrant new home, following the landmark launch of Venture Café Edinburgh on 20 November at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Powered by Venture Café Global Institute, the world’s leading innovation ecosystem activator, and delivered in partnership with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), the launch saw over 260 people attending the event, highlighting the strong demand for a new collaborative heart in Scotland’s innovation ecosystem.
Scottish company data platform launched to drive investment
An open access platform of information on start-ups, scale-ups and established private companies in Scotland has been launched.
Developed through a partnership between the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Government and Techscaler, the Scottish Ecosystem Platform provides includes funding round tracking, investor profiles and market trends.
Source: Business Insider
Edinburgh spin-out SeaWarm secures funding
University of Edinburgh spin-out SeaWarm has secured £550,000 to roll out its renewable heating system across Scottish communities.
The investment includes £250,000 from angel investment syndicate Equity Gap, £250,000 from development agency Scottish Enterprise and £50,000 from University of Edinburgh in-house venture fund Old College Capital.
Source: Business Insider