A staff of younger engineers is launching a £100,000 mission to construct a robotic that can plant seagrass to assist battle local weather change, thanks to assist acquired from Converge, a gaggle describing itself as a pan-Scotland springboard for college entrepreneurs. Right here, Converge shares each information of the mission and particulars of its ethos and methods of working with entrepreneurs.
Seagrass meadows have been known as “the lungs of the ocean” and are able to absorbing carbon dioxide 35 occasions quicker than tropical rainforests.
Greater than 90% of Britain’s seagrass has been worn out in the course of the previous century, damaging the nation’s possibilities of hitting its net-zero targets.
Now, a gaggle of eight engineering graduates from the College of Edinburgh are creating a robotic to plant seagrass seeds on the seabed in a quicker and cheaper approach than at present out there strategies.
Beforehand, it has taken 2,000 volunteers some six months to plant only one hectare of seagrass – the equal of 1.5 worldwide soccer pitches – at a value of greater than £200,000.
Two of the engineers – Niall McGrath and Joe Ralphs – started working full-time final month [January] at Robocean, the progressive firm that the staff based to show the thought into actuality.
Robocean gained the 2022 Internet Zero Problem at Converge, the initiative launched in 2011 to assist college students, employees, and up to date graduates from Scotland’s universities to create their very own companies.
Successful £30,000 from Converge has now allowed Robocean to match fund a £100,000 SMART:Scotland grant awarded by Scottish Enterprise.
Niall McGrath, co-founder and chief govt of Robocean, mentioned: “I grew up watching David Attenborough documentaries and so I’m obsessed with utilizing my abilities as an engineer to assist deal with local weather change.
“After I came upon that 92% of Britain’s seagrass had been destroyed over the previous 100 years, I realised that I’d discovered an issue I might assist to unravel.
“The important thing differentiator for our know-how is that we’re taking a bottom-up method to develop bespoke options for large-scale seagrass restoration, versus adapting current applied sciences designed for different functions. Our purpose is to create one thing which is actually versatile and scalable. It will make reinstating Scotland and the world’s seagrass meadows extra inexpensive and equitable, not only for planting however for all points of the restoration course of.
“The coaching and assist we acquired from Converge – coupled with the grant we’ve now acquired from Scottish Enterprise – will enable us to develop our know-how and prototype key progressive programs.
“Launching a enterprise like Robocean isn’t the end-game – as a substitute, it’s a method to make a distinction to the world and we’re actively in search of companions and traders to affix us on our journey.”
Over the subsequent 18 months, Robocean goals to create what it describes as a ‘minimal viable product for industrial markets’.
Information of the most recent funding comes as Converge immediately [1 February] opens functions to its 2024 programme.
Greater than £280,000 in funding and assist is on the market to the winners and runners-up throughout 4 problem classes – Converge, Create Change, KickStart, and Internet Zero – together with entry to the recommendation, networking occasions, and coaching that make Converge a extremely regarded firm creation initiative for all of Scotland’s Universities.
Over the previous 13 years, the initiative has supported greater than 670 folks to launch greater than 420 firms, elevating £360 million in follow-on funding alongside the best way.
Corporations fashioned by Converge Alumni have an 80% survival fee after three years.
That work is a part of Scotland’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, with many private and non-private sector organisations collaborating to assist new companies succeed.
Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, govt director of Converge, mentioned: “Converge is dedicated to empowering and supporting the subsequent technology of various founders and innovators who’re pushed by function and fervour to make a distinction on the planet.
“We take a collaborative, ecosystem method – working carefully with universities, analysis institutes, traders, company companions and different organisations to assist these courageous people flip their desires into actuality. By backing proficient, mission-led founders and connecting them to the complete vary of Scotland’s entrepreneurial assist system, we will have a fair higher collective impression.
“Whether or not it’s a climate-focused enterprise like Robocean or an organization addressing different societal wants, our objective is to foster extra inclusive innovation and harness Scotland’s spirit of invention to construct a greater future.”
