Blog

Giving space businesses a launch pad

12th June 2020

I’ve been based in Tontine, in Glasgow’s Merchant City, for three years now, working with businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, to match them to Scotland’s world-leading academic expertise to help them grow. Co-locating with the Scottish Space Incubator has been a privilege and an education, working with some of the most interesting and promising start-ups in the country.

One of the Incubator companies I’ve supported is Hypervine. I initially helped them engage with Professor Bill Buchanan at Edinburgh Napier University to develop their construction management software using distributed ledger technology. This project was funded by a Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher, which is a great option for a first time collaboration with a university.  Since then, they’ve gone on to attract funding from the European Space Agency to develop a purpose built system for the mining industry. Other companies in the incubator have engaged with universities to access, for example, machine learning expertise. Nudge Exchange, for example, worked with academics at Robert Gordon with expertise in machine learning and smart contracts. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in Scottish universities to tap into for companies working with space technology; with cutting edge research being undertaken in Scotland in remote sensing technologies, machine learning, blockchain, data science and cybersecurity, they’re an ideal partner for start-ups working with space technology.

For many of the companies we work with, it is their first engagement with an academic team for collaborative research and development – we can help companies understand the process and make the connections you need to turn your ideas into reality.

Interface administers the SFC Innovation voucher scheme, which is ideal for first-time collaborations with a university or college. We can also help navigate the wide range of funding available to support working with academia, for example from Innovate UK, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, or research councils.  Our free and impartial service is available to all companies interested in collaborating with academia, and I would be delighted to speak with any companies interested in hearing more over a virtual cup of coffee. You can reach me on ruth.oliver@interface-online.org.uk

***

Tontine hosts high-quality and flexible workspaces for businesses in the enabling technology, advanced design and manufacturing, and creative economy sectors. 

Hypervine and Nudge Exchange are based in the ScotlandinSpace startup, the Scottish space incubator, in Tontine. More information can be found here: https://startup.scotlandin.space/