News

SRUC appoints new Board members
Outgoing MSP Oliver Mundell is among five new non-executive directors to have been appointed to the SRUC Board.
Mr Mundell, who will stand down as MSP for Dumfriesshire at next year’s Scottish Parliament election, will join four other new Board members as SRUC builds on its journey as a degree-awarding power institution at the heart of the natural economy.

Supporting business growth in Midlothian
Midlothian Science Zone Business Forum took place on Tuesday 6th May led by Robbie Broomfield, Business Growth Advisor for Business Gateway Midlothian, who provided an overview of key business support mechanisms available in Scotland through Business Gateway and the broader enterprise agency landscape.

Research events mark Moredun and Roslin partnership
Themed talks, discussion and guest lecture launch next phase of collaboration between neighbouring organisations within Midlothian Science Zone.
A programme of research-themed events has marked a new phase in a strategic collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and Moredun Research Institute.

University of Edinburgh launches UK-first innovation initiative
The University of Edinburgh has launched a new career development route for academics wishing to focus on commercialisation and engagement with industry.
Source: Business Insider

Let’s build a new deeptech support system for Scotland
Former Intelligent Growth Solutions chief executive and now TechTour Growth DeepTech president, David Farquhar, is bringing some big investors to the capital this month.
Source: Business Insider

Higgs Centre for Innovation celebrates £25 million in investment
Companies based at the Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh have secured over £25 million in funding since the business incubation centre opened in 2018, creating over 150 jobs.
This achievement highlights Higgs’ role in supporting young businesses and fostering growth and innovation in the space and technology sectors in Scotland.

Edinburgh Science on the road again
Edinburgh Science is on the road again, bringing hands-on workshops and events to 18,000 primary school pupils across Scotland, including visits across Edinburgh from now until June via Generation Science
Source: The Nen

Experts explore new marine protein to enhance poultry feed
A group of industry professionals is exploring a fishmeal alternative derived from marine sources to evaluate potential benefits for gut health and growth performance in meat chickens.
The Innovate UK initiative, ‘Farmed Marine Proteins for Poultry Feed’, assessed the viability of using Artemeal – a protein product made from artemia – as a novel replacement for fishmeal in the diets of young broilers. The aim was to monitor health outcomes, optimise growth and reduce environmental impact.

£326k given to insect protein research
Innovate UK has awarded £326,610 to help the UK insect sector address regulatory barriers.
This IBC-Net project, led by UK Agri-Tech Centre Ltd, will overcome regulatory hurdles in insect bioconversion, the process of using insects to break down organic waste into protein for animal feed, oils or fertiliser.

Gene-edited pigs approved for US market
Pigs produced to be resistant to one of the world’s most costly livestock diseases, using technology developed by the Roslin Institute, have been approved for sale to US consumers.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a gene-editing technology that makes pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) for the US food supply chain.