Converge is on the hunt for the next generation of academic innovators looking to transform their world-class research and innovation into impactful businesses.
Applications are now open for the prestigious programme, which combines expert-led business training with a competitive edge.
Sector-specific prizes boosting business
There are a range of challenges to apply for, including special prizes from partners The Ventures Lab, IBioIC and The Data Lab. The Data Lab Award is a special prize that provides pump-prime funding for data- and AI-powered innovation that can be harnessed for economic and societal good to solve industrial challenges across sectors such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and Net Zero.
Special Prizes – Converge Challenge
Bringing innovations to market
Now in its 15th year, Converge has built a reputation as Scotland’s premier springboard for academic entrepreneurs, providing the clarity, confidence and connections needed to take research and innovation out into the marketplace.
Applying to Converge is often the first step for academic innovators ready to bring bold ideas to the forefront and lead the way. It’s a call to action for researchers like Dr Soumya Palliyil of the University of Aberdeen, who won the coveted Converge award in 2023 as co-founder of BrigID Biologics, a biotech spinout tackling the global challenge of drug-resistant, life-threatening fungal infections. By turning world-class research into a life-saving business, Soumya exemplifies exactly what Converge is looking for in the 2026 cohort.
“Converge was our first award, instantly raising our profile and giving us the endorsement we needed as an early-stage company.”
Dr Soumya Palliyil of the University of Aberdeen, who won the 2023 Converge award as co-founder of BrigID Biologics
Open to staff, students and recent graduates from Scottish academia, Converge is seeking applications for innovative propositions across all disciplines and sectors, from researchers like Soumya tackling medical breakthroughs to eco-conscious graduates seeking solutions for a cleaner world. With places in the cohort highly competitive, applicants are vying for access to world-class entrepreneurial training designed for academic innovators and a prize fund of over £400,000.
Established in 2011, Converge has grown into a powerful engine for University-led innovation, training over 870 academic entrepreneurs who have gone on to found more than 480 companies. Companies participating in the Converge programme have a three-year survival rate of 86%, far in excess of the national average, a testament to both the quality of innovation emerging from Universities and the programme’s strength and rigour.
“As we celebrate 15 years of Converge, our mission is clearer than ever – to find and fuel the academic founders of the future. With the help of our university partners, we’re now on the lookout for the bold, disruptive business ideas that will redefine our economy and society for the next 15 years. If you have the ambition to lead that change, then start your entrepreneurial story with us.”
Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge