Innovation unlocked: championing Scotland’s collaborative pathways

As Scotland marks its first National Innovation Week, Converge and the National Robotarium, are highlighting the critical need for “innovation pathways” to guide groundbreaking ideas from early-stage concept to global commercialisation. Their joint commitment to nurturing Scottish talent is exemplified by the success story of Bioliberty, a company that leveraged support from both organisations to revolutionise rehabilitation technology.

Scotland’s Innovation Week, running from 22-26 September, will showcase the country’s leadership in transformative technologies while highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration. From their home at Heriot-Watt University, Converge, Scotland’s national entrepreneurial programme for the university sector and the National Robotarium, a world-leading centre for robotics and AI, are proud to be at the forefront of this bold initiative, demonstrating how a joined-up approach to entrepreneurship can accelerate innovation and deliver significant economic and societal benefits. 

“Scotland’s universities are a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit” says Adam Kosterka, Converge’s Executive Director. “”Our mission is to empower early-stage academic entrepreneurs from all sectors, including robotics, to translate their research and ideas into impactful businesses by providing the essential training, support, funding and connections they need to test, validate and launch innovative solutions into the marketplace.”

Complementing this crucial early-stage support is the National Robotarium, a UK-wide facility bringing together research excellence, industry and creative young businesses to find, test and develop real-world applications for robotics, AI and autonomous systems. 

“At the National Robotarium, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and market-ready products,” explains CEO, Stewart Miller. “Our state-of-the-art labs, engineering expertise, incubation facilities and collaboration spaces provide the ideal environment for companies to test, develop and refine their robotic solutions, accelerating their journey from concept to global impact. We are a catalyst for entrepreneurship, ensuring that pioneering science moves rapidly from lab to market.”

A great example of these pathways in action is the journey of Bioliberty, a medtech company developing rehabilitation solutions leveraging soft robotics, gamification and AI. Evolving from a University of Edinburgh start-up into a business with global ambitions, CTO and co-founder, Ross O’Hanlon understands the value of structured innovation support. 

“As engineering graduates with an early-stage idea, we truly didn’t know what we didn’t know” says Ross, “so Converge helped to fill in those gaps with essential business training and support. The initial funding was also crucial in launching the business and preparing us for the next steps”.

Having successfully navigated the early stages of launching a business with Converge, Bioliberty then found its natural home at the National Robotarium, accessing office space, labs and specialist equipment to rapidly advance their innovative Lifehub Clinic technology. Now with FDA registration complete and flagship products ready, Bioliberty is partnering with top US rehabilitation institutions to revolutionise patient care. 

“Being at the National Robotarium allowed us to accelerate our product development significantly,” adds Ross “The access to world-class facilities, expert advice and a network of industry collaborators has been transformative and testament to the power of Scotland’s connected innovation ecosystem”.

“Even the most brilliant innovations can falter”, adds Adam Kosterka, “that’s why a well-defined pathway and strong collaborations between organisations like Converge and the National Robotarium are so essential. Together, we provide the structure, guidance and interconnected support that empowers academic entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of the global marketplace. It’s truly encouraging to see this collaborative ecosystem celebrated during Scottish Government’s Innovation Week”