Converge success for Muhammad’s Ultravizion
Published On Wed 1 Oct 2014 by Roddy Isles
A start-up business from the University of Dundee has taken second place in the 2014 Converge Challenge, a prestigious national contest which champions enterprise and entrepreneurial innovation from within Scotland's academic community.
Muhammad Sadiq‘s company Ultravizion has developed the medical device "Active Needle" technology that allows clinicians to see standard medical needles in colour during ultrasound guided needle procedures.
He was named as the runner-up of the 5th Converge Challenge at a gala event in front of 200 guests at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, addressed by Professor Anne Glover CBE, Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission.
The main prize went to Claudia Chen from the University of Strathclyde, who created Savitur Metrics, which aims to become a leading global supplier of monitoring technology for effective quality control across pharmaceutical and chemical plants around the world.
Speaking at the Converge Challenge final, Professor Anne Glover said, “Yet again, the spirit of academic innovation and enterprise emanating from the university campuses in Scotland reinforces how students and academic staff are engaged with Converge Challenge.
“For five years now, Converge has been a shining beacon of academic flair and entrepreneurship, giving participants an opportunity to crystallise their research and inventions. Converge Challenge is now synonymous as the key competition for academic enterprise and its year-on-year growth has been testament to its enduring success. The Converge Challenge is a great example of academic excellence having a real impact on the economy.”
This year's judging panel was once again headed by Converge Challenge Chairman, Mervyn Jones, who, after 20 years with BP, is now heavily involved in university knowledge exchange and chairman of a number of SMEs.
He said, “The judges had a really difficult decision to reach. As the Converge Challenge grows each year, the standard of entries reaches new heights. Unquestionably, the growth of Converge Challenge is further evidence of entrepreneurial endeavour and aspiration that thrives in Scottish higher education. All six finalists can be proud of their achievements on reaching this stage and I'm confident they'll all take away 'positives' from their individual journeys.”
Converge Challenge is in its fifth year and is attracting a growing number of applicants year-on-year. As well as the largest cash prize of its type available, it gives students and members of staff of all Scottish university and research institutes access to training and support to develop their entrepreneurial skills and explore the commercial potential of their inventions.
In 2013, The Scottish Funding Council pledged £525,000 of funding for three years, in addition to Scotland's eight research universities pledging financial support to the tune of £360,000 over the same period. This makes Converge Challenge the flagship entrepreneurial business competition for academics.
Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde universities all jointly funded the training and prizes for Converge Challenge which is open to all Scottish Universities and Research Institutes.
For more information please visit the Converge Challenge website – www.convergechallenge.com. Or join in the conversation @ConvergeC using #ConvergeC.
For further information, please contact Kevin Dorrian or Alistair McLean at Acumen on 0131 661 7027 or email; info@acumen-pr.com twitter - @acumenpr First piloted in 2010 as a business competition at Heriot-Watt, Converge Challenge:
- Became a pan-Scotland enterprise creation competition in 2011
- Received over 250 applications from 14 institutions
- In the first three years have engaged with 90 projects and 35 companies have been incorporated
- Secured over £7.8m of funding and launched 41 new products
- Almost a half of the top 30 applicants this year were female, demonstrating that scientific research is no longer a male-dominated environment (an increase on 2013).
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk