AI start-ups selected for development scheme
Entrepreneurs creating AI-powered robotic gloves, personalised medicine technology and digital tools for the circular economy are among groups set to benefit from a start-up support scheme.
Fifteen AI start-ups have been selected to take part in the AI Accelerator Programme at the University’s Bayes Centre.
The six-month programme aims to help AI start-ups with high growth potential to become world-leading companies, bringing jobs and economic benefits to Edinburgh and the city region.
Global challenges
Each of the groups selected for the programme – which received 86 applications – aims to address a major global challenge, with many focused on urgent health or climate change needs.
Among the successful start-ups is BioLiberty, which has designed an AI-powered robotic glove to assist people with hand weakness caused by medical conditions or ageing.
Another of the companies selected – Neeuro – develops digital therapeutics that could help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improve their attention span.
Reath – which uses data analytics to help businesses find ways of reusing items that would otherwise end up in landfill – was also chosen as one of the programme participants.
A full list of start-ups taking part in the programme is available here: http://bit.ly/37nHVp4.
The scheme is run in partnership with Scale Space, the UK’s leading digital venture builder, and involves the University’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations.
Tailored support
Participants will benefit from tailored advice, group working sessions and conferences to help their businesses grow.
Support also includes mentoring on business fundamentals, expert advice from industry leaders and access to a digital community that offers business growth services and opportunities to exchange ideas.
Through the Data Driven Innovation (DDI) programme, each of the 15 start-ups will also each receive a £7,500 grant from the Scottish Funding Council.
The DDI programme – part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – aims to help Edinburgh become the Data Capital of Europe, creating wider benefits for the economy and society.
We are delighted to have received funding from the Scottish Funding Council through the DDI programme to enable these dynamic AI companies to grow through participation in the successful Bayes AI accelerator programme. Bayes offers access to world-leading academic knowledge, data sets and the UK’s supercomputing facility, together in an environment of investors, entrepreneurs, academics, students and industrial partners.