Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Funding awarded to support university spinouts

Unlocking economic innovation

The Scottish Government is investing nearly £3 million to help turn university research projects into commercial business propositions.

Seventeen projects from seven different universities will share £2.92 million of funding from the Proof of Concept fund, which was piloted last year to help researchers explore and realise the commercial potential of their research.

The funding will help accelerate various aspects of the spinout process, from developing prototype products to undertaken market analysis and pitching to investors.

Projects being funded this year include:

  • Kinera at Heriot Watt University, which is developing a wearable health monitoring device for people with Parkinson’s disease to help clinicians make more personalised treatment decisions
  • Merra-log at the University of St Andrews, which is developing a low-cost environmental monitoring system to collect and transmit high-quality marine and freshwater data in near real time
  • Scensai at the University of Aberdeen, which is developing an affordable handheld chemical sensing device for the drinks industry

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism & Transport Stephen Flynn said: “The Scottish Government has now invested nearly £6 million over the last two years to realise the economic potential of more Scottish spinout companies starting and succeeding.

“Scotland’s universities have been the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest ideas and inventions for centuries – ideas and inventions which have improved lives and solved problems across the world – and it is vital this innovation continues to be nurtured.”

“The support of the Scottish Government is helping us take an important step towards improving the diagnosis of chronic gastrointestinal disorders. This funding will enable us to advance a technology with the potential to provide earlier answers for patients and more targeted treatment pathways.”

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have been awarded £124,000 to develop a simple lateral-flow test for chronic gastrointestinal disorders. The funding will develop and validate prototype tests for potential use in primary care settings.

The project’s lead Dr. Sergio Dall’Angelo said: “The support of the Scottish Government is helping us take an important step towards improving the diagnosis of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, which affect millions of people and place a substantial burden on patients and healthcare services.

“This funding will enable us to advance a promising technology, bringing us closer to a practical test that could be used in primary care. By supporting the development of this innovative diagnostic tool, the Scottish Government is helping to accelerate research with the potential to provide earlier answers for patients, reduce unnecessary investigations, improve disease stratification, and pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments.”

The Critical Technologies Accelerator at the University of Glasgow received £125,000 of funding in 2025-26 to develop a groundbreaking new coupler design for silicon-photonic microchips. Research Fellow Andrew Greer said:

“The Scottish Government Proof of Concept award was an excellent platform to enable impact from innovation by supporting a means to transition the ‘valley of death’ for scientific research that falls between raw academic science and industrial applications.

“It has been transformative for the science and the people involved by validating both the technology and the team credentials. Since receiving the award we have doubled our grant income, successfully developed a foundry scale-up process and the team are now delivering demonstrators and working with commercialisation partner STL Tech towards an invitational application to the Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spinout Programme.”

A full list of projects awarded 2026-27 Proof of Concept funding is available on the Scottish Government website.

Artist Talk at St Mary’s Cathedral

SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER from 12 – 1pm

On Sunday at noon, artist Kirralee Fisher is giving a talk on her exhibition at the Cathedral, followed by a conversation with our Chaplain Lana and Jonathan Baxter from A+E.

Do come along!

http://www.cathedral.net/…/artist-talk-and-conversation…

The Kitchen Garden: New project at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

Introducing The Garden Kitchen! 🌱

We’re excited to be starting a new Gardening & Wellbeing Group at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Starting Thursday 15th October, The Garden Kitchen will be a weekly group where adults from Drylaw and Telford can come together, spend time outdoors, grow food, learn new skills and enjoy good food and company.

🌿 Every Thursday, 10am–2pm, sessions will include:

• Gardening and food growing

• Cooking and sharing a communal meal

• Learning practical skills

• Peer support and conversation

• Opportunities to gain new qualifications and experience

The group is a welcoming space for anyone experiencing loneliness, poor mental wellbeing or social isolation, and is all about building confidence, making connections and feeling part of the community.

There will also be opportunities to work towards a Food Hygiene Level 2 qualification and develop skills that could lead to volunteering or employment.

If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch with the lovely Jane at wellbeing@drylawnc.org.uk

Silver Sunday at Dynamic Earth

FREE ADMISSION FOR OVER 65s

Over 65s go FREE at Dynamic Earth this Silver Sunday! 🌍

On 4th October, adults over 65 visit free at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s only Science Centre & Planetarium.*

Explore immersive galleries, uncover the story of our planet and experience a presenter-led show or spectacular dome film beneath our 360° Planetarium.

Whether you’re discovering the forces that shape Earth or exploring the wonders of space, there’s something for curious minds of every age.

Simply visit our Ticket Desk on the 4th of October to claim the offer in person with our team. 📣

Find out more: https://dynamicearth.org.uk/…/over-65s-go-free-this…/

*Terms and Conditions apply. Valid ID may be checked on arrival.

Rainfall brings widespread improvement in water scarcity conditions

Recent rainfall has brought a marked improvement in water scarcity conditions across Scotland, with no areas now at Significant Scarcity compared with seven in the previous report.

The latest Water Scarcity Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows conditions have improved across a number of areas following recent rainfall.

Stonehaven, North Esk, Tay Estuary (North), North Fife, Fife (East Neuk), Whiteadder Water and Berwickshire coastal have all recovered from Significant Scarcity in the last week. The number of areas at Moderate Scarcity has also reduced from five to two, with only Tyne (Lothian) and Tweed catchments remaining at this level.

However, the improvement does not mean water scarcity pressures have ended. River flows, soil moisture and groundwater levels remain low across much of eastern Scotland, and more prolonged rainfall will be needed for a sustained recovery. Without sustained rainfall, the Lower Tweed area could reach Significant Scarcity within the next week.

Among other areas showing recovery this week, Esk (Angus), Firth of Tay and Firth of Forth have moved down to Alert; Deveron and Ythan have moved to Early Warning; and Cree and Spey have returned to Normal Conditions.

Despite the improving overall picture, the underlying indicators continue to show the effects of prolonged dry conditions. River flows remain low to very low across much of eastern Scotland, while the west continues to experience normal to high flows.

Ground conditions also remain dry across parts of eastern Scotland, with only limited improvement in soil moisture in recent weeks. Groundwater levels remain low to very low across much of the east, although levels elsewhere are generally normal or above normal.

Claire Tunaley, Senior Hydrologist in SEPA’s Water Resources Unit, said: “The recent rainfall has helped with recovery, and it is encouraging that we no longer have any areas at Significant Scarcity.

“However, this follows a prolonged period of dry weather and we are not yet seeing a full recovery across eastern Scotland. River flows, soil moisture and groundwater remain low in a number of areas, particularly in the south-east.

“What happens next will depend on the amount and persistence of rainfall we receive. Short periods of rain can improve conditions, but sustained rainfall is needed to replenish rivers, soils and groundwater after a prolonged dry period.”

The latest Water Scarcity Report, together with advice for abstractors and irrigators and SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool, is available on the SEPA website.

SEPA will continue to publish weekly updates on water scarcity conditions until all areas have recovered to Alert or below. 

Current water scarcity levels

  • Moderate Scarcity: Tyne (Lothian), Tweed
  • Alert: ​Don (Aberdeenshire), Dee (Aberdeen), Esk (Angus), Firth of Tay, Firth of Forth, Almond 
  • Early warning: ​Findhorn, Deveron, Ythan, Tay, Earn 
  • All areas not mentioned above are at Normal conditions

Current data and conditions

The latest information on water scarcity and river conditions is available through:

SEPA’s Water Scarcity Situation Report – 01 October 2026 – the weekly assessment of water scarcity conditions across Scotland.

SEPA’s Drought Risk Assessment Tool – shows low-flow monitoring stations and how close areas are to Significant Scarcity

SEPA’s River Level Network – current river-level information from monitoring stations across Scotland

Rainfall data for Scotland – current and historic rainfall information

Water scarcity and flooding

Scotland can experience flooding and water scarcity at the same time. The two are not contradictory.

Flooding can result from intense rainfall over a relatively short period, while water scarcity reflects the effects of prolonged dry conditions on rivers soils and groundwater. Conditions can therefore vary considerably between different parts of Scotland and individual catchments.

Rain in an area also does not automatically mean water scarcity conditions will improve. After prolonged dry weather, intense rainfall can cause river levels to rise rapidly and lead to localised flooding, but those rises may be short lived. For water scarcity conditions to recover, river flows need to improve sufficiently and remain higher over time.

Dry soils and low groundwater levels can also take longer to recover, meaning sustained rainfall over longer periods may be needed to reverse the effects of prolonged dry conditions.

Water scarcity levels

SEPA uses five levels to describe water scarcity: Normal Conditions, Early Warning, Alert, Moderate Scarcity and Significant Scarcity.

The levels reflect increasing pressure on the water environment. At Significant Scarcity, SEPA may temporarily restrict abstractions from the environment where necessary to protect rivers and ecosystems.

Water scarcity levels relate to the water environment and are not an assessment of public drinking water supplies.

DRAT stations and significant scarcity

SEPA monitors a network of long-established low-flow gauging stations across Scotland to identify when river flows have remained unusually low for a sustained period.

The Drought Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT) shows how many days each station has been below Q95, a recognised low-flow threshold. When a station reaches 30 days below Q95, the catchments it represents move to Significant Scarcity and SEPA will impose any abstraction restrictions required.

Each station represents a defined Significant Scarcity area, which may contain one river or several catchments. As a result, the number of DRAT stations reaching the threshold and the number of areas at Significant Scarcity may be different.

How long water scarcity can last

Water scarcity does not necessarily end at the end of summer. Conditions can improve or deteriorate depending on rainfall and how rivers, soils and groundwater respond.

Further information and support

The National Water Scarcity Plan explains how water scarcity is monitored and managed in Scotland. 

Further information is available on:

TODAY: Community Coffee Morning in Davidsons Mains

SYCAMORE CAFE at D MAINS PARISH CHURCH 10.30 – 12.30

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A cuppa, a little creativity and a chance to connect!

💚

Have you ever wondered what’s going on in your local community or how you could get involved? Come and find our stall and ask us about what we do!

Come along to our Coffee & Community morning for a chance to meet local groups, discover what’s happening in the area and find out about volunteering opportunities.

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🎄

There’ll also be some festive fun with gingerbread person decorating on our stall, so why not come along and get creative?

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Find out about local events and activities

🤝

Meet people who make things happen in our community

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Explore volunteering opportunities and ways to help

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Enjoy a warm welcome, refreshments and good company

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Get involved in some fun gingerbread decorating

You don’t need to commit to anything or have a particular reason to come – just bring yourself and enjoy the morning!

📅

Saturday 3 October 2026

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10.30am – 12.30pm

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Sycamore Tree Cafe, Davidson’s Mains Parish Church

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Pop in, find our stall, say hello and spread the word. We look forward to seeing you there!

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🌿

Edinburgh innovators land national awards across health, space and technology

EDINBURGH innovators have secured a string of national awards for university-developed ideas spanning women’s health, the creative industries and disease detection.

Leading the region’s success is WombWise, developed by Edinburgh Napier University Data Engineering graduate Emily Youngs, who was crowned winner of the Create Change Challenge at the 2026 Converge Awards.

The system has been developed to tackle the long delays many women face in securing a diagnosis of endometriosis and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. It affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age, according to the Endometriosis Foundation.

Through combining data from wearable devices such as smartwatches with an AI symptom tracker, WombWise aims to give women objective evidence they can take to their GP.

Emily Youngs said: “What we’re doing at WombWise is using wearable devices that are already on the market, like Oura Rings and Apple Watches, repurposing that data and looking for pain markers.

“We’re tracking women for pain rather than fertility and pregnancy, trying to see if they’ve got potential signs of endometriosis or PMOS and helping them towards a potential diagnosis.

“I’m just so shocked to even be here, never mind win. I’m very happy”

WombWise was joined by fellow winners in the Edinburgh region, Stage Analytics from Queen Margaret University, which secured the Creative Fusion Prize, sponsored by Mark Logan, for technology that helps event venues and producers make better use of their data. Its real-time dashboards streamline information and provide stronger evidence to support decisions around scheduling shows.

Heriot-Watt University also celebrated success through RecoverPX, led by Helen Bridle, which secured the Ventures Lab Prize as well as a Blue Economy Prize for technology designed to help water companies detect potentially harmful contamination more reliably.

Its first focus is Cryptosporidium, a parasite which can contaminate water supplies and the technology has already been tested by several UK water companies.

Winners from universities across the Edinburgh region continued with Pleiades Dynamics, led by Stephen Spice from the University of Edinburgh, who secured the Space Challenge award in the first year of this new category, funded by Space Scotland and the Higgs Centre for Innovation.

The region’s universities also claimed a runner-up place in the Converge Challenge category, with Heriot-Watt University’s TissueMetrics, led by Michael Crichton and Sara Medina-Lombardero, also picking up The Data Lab special prize.

The Data Lab works with Scottish universities to advance innovation and skills in data and artificial intelligence. TissueMetrics is developing technology to help improve the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, such as eczema.

AI for the Eye, founded by Michaela Thorne, has developed a non-invasive, AI-powered retinal imaging system designed to transform how bovine tuberculosis is detected in cattle. It rounded off a strong showing for Edinburgh region universities across healthcare, the creative industries and animal health.

Michaele Thorne said: ““The money is going to be used to make the retinal imaging prototype for cattle, which means we’ll be able to take the device onto farms and image live animals. It means we can validate the business and push things forward.

“It was unexpected and really exciting to win. It’s going to do a lot of good for the business.”

Juto Bio, represented by Commercial Lead Jude Taylor from the University of Edinburgh, won the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre special prize (IBioIC). The company uses waste from Scottish whisky distilleries to grow tiny algae, which are turned into natural products that help crops grow. It offers farmers a cheaper alternative to treatments made from seaweed.

Adam Kosterka, Executive Director of Converge, said: “Edinburgh has an extraordinary concentration of academic and entrepreneurial talent and this year’s results demonstrate the breadth of innovation emerging from universities across the region.

“WombWise is addressing a significant challenge in women’s health, while the success of Stage Analytics, RecoverPX, Pleiades Dynamics, TissueMetrics, AI for the Eye and Juto Bio shows just how varied university entrepreneurship in the Edinburgh region has become.

“These are very different ventures, but they share our ambition to take strong ideas beyond the university environment and turn them into something capable of delivering real-world impact.”

That ambition sits at the heart of Converge, which works with staff, students and recent graduates to develop the commercial skills, expertise and connections needed to turn promising university ideas into sustainable businesses.

Backed by the Scottish Funding Council, a network of corporate partners and Scotland’s universities, the programme combines practical business support and training with equity-free funding.

Paul Devoy, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “We’re proud to have been able to support Converge’s impact on Scottish innovation and entrepreneurship for the past 15 years.  

“The Converge Awards are a fabulous way to celebrate the university-led innovation that plays an important part in Scotland’s ambition to be amongst the world’s most innovative nations. 

“All the participants in this year’s programme have contributed to new thinking and entrepreneurship, and this year’s winners and finalists represent exceptional creativity in solving global challenges.”

Formed in 2011, Converge has become a driving force for university-led innovation, supporting more than 1000 academic entrepreneurs who have gone on to establish over 500 companies.

Businesses taking part in the Converge programme have a three-year survival rate of 86%, significantly above the national average. This reflects both the strength of innovation emerging from universities and the quality, support and rigour of the programme.

Building on that milestone, Converge is preparing to launch Converge 2.0 in 2027, an evolved offering which will broaden its support and introduce more tailored, sector-specific pathways for ventures at an advanced stage of development.

Edinburgh resident pays thanks to funeral director after losing parents six years apart

Edinburgh resident Vineet Lal has expressed his thanks to William Purves Funeral Directors for going above and beyond to organise his parents’ funerals held six years apart. 

Vineet’s mother, Saroj Lal, passed away in 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite the restrictions placed on funeral services, Vineet believes William Purves did everything possible to create a special and meaningful event.

This included commissioning a videographer to capture the day on film and organising the funeral procession to pass locations of personal significance, including the Edinburgh Hindu Mandir, on the journey from the family home to Mortonhall Crematorium.   

The Edinburgh funeral director safely stored Saroj’s ashes throughout the pandemic, after which they were returned to the family for an immersion ceremony held at Edinburgh’s Ganga Ghat.

The ceremony held particular significance for the family; in the 1990s, Saroj championed the establishment of Ganga Ghat on the River Almond in Edinburgh, marking the first designated location in Scotland for Hindu and Sikh communities to perform Asthi Visarjan – the ritual scattering of a deceased loved one’s ashes into flowing water.

Vineet said of his mother’s funeral: “Despite the restrictions posed by the pandemic, William Purves delivered a memorable, personal funeral.

“The team suggested creative ways to celebrate Saroj’s life and personality throughout the ceremony and organised a videographer to film much of the day for future generations to look back on.

“Their support leading up to the event, on the day and long after went above and beyond what I could have expected of a funeral director.”

When his father, Amrit, died in 2026, Vineet turned to the independent funeral director once again. Having captured recordings and video clips of his father talking about his life in the intervening years, Vineet wanted to repurpose the material to present at the funeral, effectively allowing Amrit to tell his own story – and say his own goodbye.  

William Purves Funeral Directors obliged the request, pulling the clips together into a presentation, stitching it with music and streaming it during the funeral. Recordings of Saroj were also incorporated, as were many of the couple’s accomplishments and cherished moments.

The clips were presented just a few feet away from Amrit who lay at rest in an open casket for Antim Darshan – a traditional practice for Eastern cultures. This meant all guests had the chance to pay their respects in their own way. 

Vineet thanked the funeral director for their efforts: “A huge credit to everybody at William Purves for rising to the occasion, providing technical expertise and team support for both the home service and cremation, and guiding me through each step so that we could transform my vision into a reality. 

“What started as an idea became, after much editing and rehearsing, a life-changing experience not just for me but for everyone who attended the funeral. We gave it our all and I cannot thank William Purves, and everyone else involved, enough for the work they put in to help achieve this dream.”

Andrew Purves, William Purves COO and Funeral Director, commented: “We were honoured that Vineet chose William Purves to organise the funerals of both his mother and father.

“Placing your faith in a funeral director is a deeply personal act of trust, and one which we do not take lightly. It was a privilege to help realise Vineet’s vision and celebrate the remarkable stories of both Saroj and Amrit.”

Vineet added: “My parents’ funerals have given me an important insight into the funeral industry, and the compassion, empathy and emotional intelligence of those who work within it.

I am hugely impressed by the way that they carry themselves, and I’m so grateful to the funeral directors, embalmers and wider team that cared for my parents.”

High value housebreakings across Scotland: Man to appear in court

A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a number of high-value housebreakings across Scotland.

The incidents happened at various addresses in the Edinburgh, Glasgow, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Renfrewshire.

The man was arrested in the Newcastle area and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 5 October, 2026.

A team of detectives are continuing to work with partners, including police services across the UK, investigating acquisitive crime as part of Operation Virion.

Detective Superintendent David MacGregor said: “Whenever a home is broken into, the impact on the householder, their families and the local community is significant. We are very aware that many of the items stolen have a significant sentimental value as well as financial value.

“Our enquiries remain ongoing into this series of housebreakings. We are determined to disrupt the activity of those involved and will do everything in our power to bring them to justice.”

Anyone with any information can contact Police Scotland via 101 or alternatively, make an anonymous report to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

New affordable homes completed in Wester Hailes

LATEST PHASE OF REGENERATION PROGRAMME COMPLETED

73 brand new affordable homes are now complete at Murrayburn Gate and ready to hand over to new residents 🏘️

Delivered in partnership with CCG Scotland Ltd these modern, energy-efficient homes have renewable heating, solar panels and landscaped communal spaces.

New residents are expected to move in over the next 2 – 3 weeks.

Find out more about the homes:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/…/murrayburn-gate…