Edinburgh University start-ups receive SMART:SCOTLAND grants

Five start-up businesses founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh have secured almost half a million pounds in grant funding awards between them. 

The five companies, all supported by the University’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations, have been awarded around £100,000 each through SMART:SCOTLAND grants.

The recipients include BioLiberty, creators of a soft robotic glove and a digital therapy platform aimed at helping sufferers of hand weakness and eMoodie, a mental health digital platform which facilitates early screening.

Awarded by Scottish Enterprise to Scottish-based SMEs, SMART:SCOTLAND grants are offered to qualifying high risk, highly ambitious projects with a commercial focus.

Edinburgh Innovations has supported the company founders throughout their entrepreneurial journeys, including helping them to successfully apply for a range of additional national awards. BioLiberty has previously won the business funding competition, Scottish Edge, and eMoodie has secured initial seed investment and been recognised by other business award programmes.

Lorna Baird, student enterprise manager, said: “We’re so pleased with the success of these emerging companies, all founded by University of Edinburgh students or graduates, in securing their grant awards from SMART:SCOTLAND. These start-ups are deserving of their significant funding awards as they are all focused on developing innovative solutions to some of the key challenges facing society. As an organisation which is committed to helping University of Edinburgh-linked start-up businesses reach their full potential, Edinburgh Innovations is proud of its role in supporting these budding entrepreneurs.”

Jim Watson, director of business growth at Scottish Enterprise, said: “SMART:SCOTLAND grants are an effective way of encouraging Scottish businesses to innovate and helping them attract additional funding.

“The cutting-edge products and services being developed by these five companies are great examples of the pioneering work supported by SMART and the economic, environmental and societal benefits associated with the programme.”