This year’s Converge cohort brings together over 120 of Scotland’s most promising academic start-ups and spinouts, selected from a record-breaking number of applications from universities across the country.
Participants will now take part in an intensive program of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and networking, with access to a £400,000 prize fund later in the program for the most promising ventures.
The three UHI projects selected for the Converge KickStart Challenge highlight the breadth of innovation emerging from across the UHI partnership, addressing global challenges in marine restoration, infant development, and biotechnology.
The selected projects are:
- AMPERE – Professor Adam Hughes, Professor of Innovation in the Blue Economy at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), a partner of UHI.
A project developing autonomous, low-cost modular systems designed to support the restoration of vital marine ecosystems such as coral and oyster reefs. By enhancing the growth of keystone marine species, AMPERE aims to accelerate habitat recovery, improve resilience to climate stress, and help unlock investment in biodiversity restoration through emerging biodiversity credit markets.
Professor Hughes said: “I am very excited and daunted by being selected for Converge. It is a great opportunity to test whether the technology can be created to significantly enhance marine habitat restoration.”
- NeuroNest Sensory Cover – Jamie Mason-Pate, studying An Introduction to Business Administration at UHI Inverness.
A concept developed to support the early sensory and motor development of premature and newborn babies during feeding.
Jamie said: “Being selected for Converge 2026 is an incredible opportunity for both myself and the NeuroNest Sensory Cover project. Being part of Converge Kickstart gives me the chance to develop the idea further and connect with people who can help bring it to life.”
- MycoMara AI – Thomas Bartram, a MRes (Marine Science) student at Scottish Association for Marine Science, a partner of UHI.
A platform creating an AI-enabled library of underexplored marine fungi to identify novel bioactive molecules for biotechnology and pharmaceutical discovery. Focused on areas including antibiotics, oncology, inflammation, and fibrosis, MycoMara AI aims to tackle global health challenges such as antimicrobial resistance while promoting the sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
Thomas said: “Being selected for Converge 2026 is a key step for MycoMara AI. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with mentors and industry partners who can help shape the project towards practical application.”
Adam Kosterka, Executive Director of Converge, said: “Each year, the quality of applications to our program astonishes us with the breadth and depth of innovation displayed. The 2026 cohort is very strong, and we are looking forward to working with them as they take the next steps towards making their ideas a commercial reality.”
Vicki Nairn, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UHI, said: “These three projects demonstrate the creativity, innovation, and expertise that exists across our UHI partnership, and highlight the important role we play in developing solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. We look forward to seeing them develop through the program, and congratulations to everyone involved.”
Converge supports university staff, students, and graduates to develop entrepreneurial skills and transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. Led by experienced entrepreneurs, the program provides participants with access to training, live pitching opportunities, and peer-to-peer networking.
The full list of the 2026 Converge cohort is available on the Converge website: https://www.convergechallenge.com/converge-welcomes-latest-cohort-with-astonishing-breadth-and-depth-of-innovation/
