Venture 2014 offers £5000 for enterprising researchers

Published On Thu 1 May 2014 by Roddy Isles

Enterprising and innovative researchers at the University of Dundee will this week compete for up to £5000 seed money to turn their ideas into commercial applications in the 2014 Venture Competition.

The competition is the final element of the Venture programme that is open to early career and postgraduate researchers at the University and is aimed at those who are interested in developing their research or exploring the commercialisation possibilities for their ideas. It takes place on Thursday May 1st at University House, Perth Road, Dundee.

For the final session, the successful business ideas will be pitched for the top prize of up to £5000 seed money..

Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University, said, “The Venture Competition celebrates and develops the entrepreneurial talents of our research postgraduates and early career researchers, skills which are invaluable in translating research into commercial applications.

“It is extremely encouraging for me to see the exciting ideas emerging from our young researchers who want their research to have an impact on the society that supports it.”

Participants in the Venture programme take part in a series of workshops and mentoring sessions, organised by the University’s Organisational and Professional Development unit, giving them an insight into how research can lead to business development.

Judging of the final session will be carried out by a panel of experts including Dr Mhairi Towler,  Founder and Creative Director at Vivomotion, Brian McNicol, Business Partnership Manager at Design in Action and Scott Ettershank Founder at Legal Services UK Limited.

Finalists will also hear from Dr Muhammad Sadiq, who was one of the Venture 2012 competition winners.

This year’s award will be presented by the University Principal, Professor Pete Downes.

The event takes place on Thursday 1 May from 10.30 am to 3 pm at University House, Dundee.

For more information contact:
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk