Three Edinburgh Napier projects have made it to the 2021 semi-finals of Converge, Scotland’s largest company creation programme for the university sector.
Our staff take their place among 90 academic entrepreneurs, split across four challenge categories – Converge, Creative, Impact and KickStart, with all 18 of Scotland’s universities represented in the shortlist.
The University semi finalists are:
Converge Challenge
Mark Dorris, Mercel
Mercel is a spin-out company from Edinburgh Napier. The company makes a range of sustainable material products using patented seaweed nanocellulose technologies. As a natural polymer, nanocellulose addresses the growing demand to replace many synthetic fossil-fuel derived materials with sustainable alternatives.
Nanocellulose from other sources have commercial and technical limitations which seaweed-derived nanocellulose avoids. Mercel focusses on four applications for which seaweed sourced nanocellulose has clear competitive advantages. These are impact resistant materials, research materials, super absorbent biopolymers, and drug delivery systems. Products are in development with industrial partners and potential customers.
PlusPEP Ltd
One year socially distanced, our exposure to Rhinovirus, the primary cause of the common cold, is low and as the Covid-19 pandemic subsides we will again be challenged by circulating viruses.
Made in Scotland, patent pending with Proof of Concept demonstrated against Rhinovirus, PlusPEP®, promises to be Scotland’s first “antiviral, immunity boosting supplement pill”. Exported globally, selling direct online or through Pharmacies and Supermarket chains, Edinburgh Napier spin-out PlusPEP Ltd aims to secure first revenues within the $29Bn Global Immune Health Supplements market by late 2021.
Impact Challenge
Erin Reid
Military personnel spend long periods of time in rural, often unhygienic environments. However, because menstruation is seen as a hassle, inconvenience, and a women’s problem it is not catered for in training. Eighty-three percent of surveyed Army women agreed that they did not receive enough information or resources regarding menstrual hygiene putting them at risk of toxic shock, UTIs or cervical cancer. LU understands military menstruators’ needs and answers them in an easy-to-use product while helping to provide training guides for staff, eliminating the taboo in one of the most masculine, male-dominated environments.
Nick Fannin, Head of Enterprise at Edinburgh Napier, said: "The Converge Challenge is a great showcase for the aspiring entrepreneurial talent emerging from Scotland’s universities and we’re delighted to see both PlusPEP and Mercel make it to the semi-final stage of the main competition and also undergraduate student, Erin Reid, in the Impact Challenge. We are continuing to build on our success in recent years with both spin-out companies and student start-ups."
Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director of Converge, said: “I’m always amazed at the inventiveness and creativity of the projects coming through Converge and, despite the difficult times we’re experiencing, this year is no exception.
“Starting a business right now might seem counterintuitive. However, as the history books show, difficult business environments can offer rich opportunities with moments of crisis serving as a powerful impetus for innovation. We can’t wait to get started and would like to congratulate all our semi-finalists on getting through to this stage.”
Converge is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, all 18 of Scotland’s universities, Creative Scotland and a network of partners including Cisco, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Social Investment Scotland.