Chitopolymers, the SSC mentored start-up based in Glasgow. are through to the final stages of Pitch at the Palace

They are worthy winners of their heat and off to the Boot Camp in Cambridge next week.

This is a wonderful achievement for a company, yet to start operations but with an inspirational concept to take shells from langoustines and produce environmentally sustainable, antimicrobial food packaging for seafood - helping to extend shelf-life and reduce spoilage.

Chitopolymers, the aspirational spin-out from Strathclyde have completed their business plan and submitted their SMART Scotland application with the assistance of SSC.

 

For the past 18 months SSC have been working with the scientific brains behind the project to identify the viable business opportunity within all their skills and innovative ideas relating to Chitin and Chitosan. The challenge has been to narrow the field to the directions with the greatest potential for creation of IP, for swift access to market and also greatest interest to the founders.

 

The result is pleasing. Chitopolymers will recycle and upcycle waste from the fishing industry, specifically langoustines, and create a new biodegradable and compostable biopolymer mix from which they will make food packaging that will extend the shelf-life of seafood reducing the waste from that industry. This will be done through a new biological fermenation process that will significantly reduce the chemicals and energy consumption of the extraction process.

 

And it has been equally pleasing to watch the evolution of the key-scientists into business focussed executives capable of taking their business forward.

 

We wish them luck and will be watching their progress closely

It is with delight that SSC announce a new recruit  - Mr Bill Barnett

 

Bill has many years experience in Project Management and in designing business processes. He is also an expert in IP due diligence and early stage commercialisation support. His experience with NERC (Natural Environment Research Coucil) in the UK and his work with the British Geological Survey adds additional strength  to SSC's Environmental Sciences knowledge base.

 

Bill will be put to work helping to ensure feasibiity and development projects keep focus and ensure meeting their milestones.

 

A very welcome addition to the team.

The first Business JumpStart course for Helsinki University has been delivered with great success, fun and hard work on the part of the attendees.

 

16 students from the Doctoral School of Health Sciences have taken 4 real business concepts from their own research and ideas and turned them into 15 min investor style pitches. They have explained the technology, the business proposition, created  marketing strategy and sales plans and outlined the roles of the team in taking their businesses forward.

 

And despite the 12 hour day work-load achieved this with smiles, laughter and a fabulous atmosphere of enjoyment.

 

Congratulations to the participants. The SSC team are extremely proud of your achievements.