23 March 2004

Greenhouse to incubate business ideas

Photo opportunity 4.30pm, Wednesday 24 March, Applied Computing Microcentre, University of Dundee.

The University of Dundee opens a new "Greenhouse" this week to shed light on new business ideas and give them room to grow. This latest business incubator unit puts the University of Dundee at the forefront in Scotland for fostering small technology businesses and will initially house two new enterprises - a building consultancy, and a team working on computer design to mark the end of the beige box computer look.

"The Greenhouse", can house up to nine people each with their own workstation. Established to nurture ideas, the tenants will have six months rent free in the Greenhouse with business support from University commercialisation experts.

Budding University staff and student entrepreneurs with ideas and plans that look like viable business propositions at the end of the six month period will have the opportunity to become university spin out companies joining 14 successful companies which have already emerged from the University of Dundee. Whole Life Consultants along with Leyson Innovation and Design will be the first tenants that will inhabit the Greenhouse.

The very latest University spin out company, Whole Life Consultants, aim to be the leading consultant building project sustainability. With an environmental agenda, the company will advise on the whole life of construction projects looking to reduce maintenance costs, chose the best value for money and increase the profitability to PFI/PPP contracts from the start of the project to the end of the building's life.

Leyson Innovation and Design, the brainchild of two fourth year applied computing students, is an innovative design business building computers to match interior décors, hobbies or corporate logos to move away from the standard beige boxes. Their latest design is a PC attractively set in a guitar. In addition, Leyson is establishing work in the field of stylish web design with a focus on usability.

John MacKenzie, Commercialisation Facilitator said: "The Greenhouse is another piece of the commercialisation infrastructure jigsaw at the University of Dundee, somewhere that students and staff can locate themselves and concentrate on building business propositions within a supportive environment and a 'like minded' community. It is another example of the University of Dundee being an entrepreneurial place for its staff and students. We are delighted to launch such a facility and grateful to Scottish Enterprise Tayside for its financial contribution and overall support of the initiative."

Based at the top of the MicroCentre Building, Applied Computing at the heart of the campus, the £40,000 Greenhouse project is funded by the University of Dundee and Scottish Enterprise Tayside.

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk