27 March 2013

Venture 2013 offers £5000 for enterprising researchers

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 2013 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 March 28th 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 and office space for a year in the University's Greenhouse Incubator unit, which supports new business start-ups.

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.

Finalists will be welcomed on Thursday by the University's Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mr Scott Brady. Judging of the final session will be carried out by a panel of experts including Professor Georgina Follett, Deputy Principal for Knowledge Exchange in the Creative Arts, Principal Investigator and Director, AHRC-awarded Knowledge Exchange hub 'Design in Action'; Dr Howard Marriage, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Ednburgh BioQuarter, Director at Aquila Biomedical Ltd, Chairman at Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services Limited; and Mr Gary McEwan, Chief Executive Officer Enterprise North East Trust.

Finalists will also hear from Dr Mhairi Towler, Founder and Creative Director at Vivomotion, who is a previous Venture competition winner. This year's award will be presented by the University Secretary, Dr Jim McGeorge.

The event takes place on Thursday 28 March from 10.30 am to 3 pm at University House, Dundee.

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Roddy Isles
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