News
Scotland’s spinout potential is real – and its capital is finally catching up
University Spinouts are having a moment. Investment in the sector hit £3.35bn in 2024, up 44% on the year before, and the institutions driving those headlines – UCL, Oxford, Cambridge – are clustered within a few miles of each other in London. UCL Business’ recent research underscores the point, with academics at a single London university having driven £3.06bn in external investment across 95 active spinout companies over the past five years.
Source: DIGIT
Biotech spin-out secures £1.58m as bio kits sell in US
The University of Edinburgh spin-out BIOCAPTIVA has raised £1.58 million in a new funding round and launched its first product in the US.
BIOCAPTIVA’s a novel magnetic bead technology is designed to solve one of liquid biopsy’s biggest bottlenecks - preparing blood samples for cancer research and diagnostics. By improving how cell-free DNA is captured from blood, the technology aims to make liquid biopsy testing more reliable, scalable, and accessible.
Source: The Business
‘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.
Scottish equity investment tops £1bn as investors focus on fewer but larger deals
Equity investment into Scottish companies rose by almost a third to over £1 billion last year, even though the number of deals increased by less than 1%, a new report has shown.
The figures suggest investors are becoming more selective and refining their focus with fewer but larger deals and more capital deployed overall, according to Mercia Ventures.
Source: Scottish Financial News
Midlothian junction upgrade reaches final design stage
As one of the flagship infrastructure investments of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the Bush Loan junction upgrade has now moved into its final design phase.
This development will improve vehicle safety, reduce traffic speeds, ease access to employment and research sites and enable future development across Midlothian Science Zone, whilst addressing Transport Scotland’s safety concerns.
Source: Scottish Construction Now
Scottish Enterprise launches £35m Life Sciences drive
Scottish Enterprise is backing ambitious life sciences companies to succeed in Scotland, helping to improve the availability of affordable premises for high-growth businesses in the sector as they commercialise and expand. The new £35 million Life Sciences Accommodation Programme has been announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and will launch later this year.
Source: DIGIT NEWS
Bush Loan Junction Upgrade Reaches Final Design Stage as Major City Deal Project Hits Halfway Mark
As one of the flagship infrastructure investments of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the Bush Loan junction upgrade has now moved into its final design phase. Midlothian Council has confirmed that engineers are preparing detailed designs following planning approval, with contractor appointment expected in mid‑2026 and construction scheduled to begin later this year.
Beta Bugs Ltd appoints Dr Alan Tinch as CEO to lead genetics-focused strategy
Beta Bugs Ltd has announced the appointment of Dr Alan Tinch as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 2026. Dr Tinch's appointment follows Beta Bugs' strategic decision in 2025 to focus exclusively on BSF genetics, moving away from pilot-scale manufacturing operations. This pivot reflects the company's assessment of competitive dynamics in the UK BSF market and positions Beta Bugs to capitalise on its core strength: developing superior genetic strains for the rapidly growing global insect protein industry.
Archangels leverages £41m of investment in Scottish scale-ups in 2025
Edinburgh-based angel investment syndicate, Archangels, has leveraged £41.1 million of investment in Scottish scale-ups during 2025, in some of Scotland’s best early-stage tech and life science companies.
Source: Scottish Financial News
Biotech firm raises £4.5M for North American expansion
Rhizocore Technologies, a biotechnology company which uses fungi to improve tree growth and survival rates, has secured £4.5 million in investment to scale its innovative approach to forestry and woodland restoration. This investment comes after surging demand for Rhizocore’s fungal tree health pellets.