Special Prizes

With generous support from a group of sponsors, we are excited to offer additional sector-specific prizes to help boost your business.

These awards include both cash and, where relevant, additional in-kind business support.

Blue Economy Award

Help for blue economy businesses

Our oceans sustain life on Earth but face growing threats from unsustainable fishing practices, pollution and climate change. To secure a healthy planet and a thriving future, we must shift to an ocean economy that not only protects and restores marine ecosystems but also supports responsible development within our oceans.

Converge are collaborating with Orbital Marine Power to accelerate innovation in blue economy entrepreneurship, through a dedicated prize package within our 2026 programme.

Participants in the Converge 2026 programme who submit a business case (KickStart Challenge) or business plan (Converge/Net Zero/Create Change Challenges) in the area of blue economy.

Examples of relevant sectors:

  • Blue biotechnology
  • Desalination
  • Marine living resources (eg. aquaculture and fisheries)
  • Coastal tourism
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Infrastructure and robotics
  • Maritime transport
  • Decarbonisation of ports

£50k cash fund

We’re looking for a winner and a runner-up from our Converge, Net Zero and Create Change Challenges with an additional prize available to participants in our KickStart Challenge.

PR and promotion

Feature in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media.

The Ventures Lab Award

Support for purpose-led ventures

If you have an innovative idea that addresses a significant societal challenge, this award can help you achieve sustainable impact at scale.

With support from the Scottish Government, The Ventures Lab aims to build a broad and inclusive market for social ventures in Scotland. Using their unique social venture building and investment facility approach, they are creating an environment where innovative purpose-led ventures can attract a range of partners and investors to help them realise social impact globally.

This prize is available to all Converge participants who complete their training and submit a business case. Innovations can be in any market sector, provided you can

  • clearly articulate a defined challenge/problem
  • a strong understanding of the market
  • an evidence-based realistic go-to-market plan
  • the potential to scale the solution internationally.

£10k cash prize

£10k cash prize for the winning project.

Support package

A tailored package of support including a dedicated Ventures Lab manager. Successful candidates may secure up to £100k interest-free from Ventures Lab’s in-house investment facility.

PR and promotion

Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media.

IBiolC Award

Help for Industrial Biotechnology Businesses

Scotland is a global powerhouse for industrial biotechnology innovation with the race to net zero offering even more opportunities to grow the sector.

If you have a new biotechnology process or product that addresses a real market need, then this Award can help you to make it a commercial reality.

We welcome projects in all areas of Industrial Biotechnology including, but not limited to:

  • Biorefining
  • Food and drink
  • Biotech in textiles and materials
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Biotechnology in waste management
  • Enzymes and catalysts
  • Downstream processing
  • Agritech
  • Biopharmaceuticals

£20k cash prize

£20k cash prize for the university where the project originated.

Support package

A tailored package of support including a free annual IBioIC membership and a dedicated IBioIC account manager.

PR and promotion

Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media.

The Data Lab Award

Help for Data Science and AI innovation and adoption

This pump-priming award is suitable if you have a Data Science and/or AI powered innovation that addresses a real market need and could be harnessed for economic or societal good.

If you have a Data Science and/or AI powered innovation that addresses a real market need and could be harnessed for economic or societal good, then this award could be for you.

We welcome projects in the application of innovative Data Science and/or AI to solve industrial challenges in the following areas:

  • Healthcare
  • Life Sciences
  • Financial Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Space
  • Energy Transition
  • Sustainability and Net Zero

 

£20k cash prize

For a Data Science/ AI innovation project from our Converge, Net Zero and Create Change Challenges

Support package

The Data Lab offers a comprehensive support package including access to The Data Lab community, connection to industry partners and data science resources.

PR and promotion

Winners will be featured in a Converge press release sent to local, regional and national media and included within the Data Lab’s varied marketing channels for distribution to their global network.