Converge

Converge bridges the gap between academic research and commercialisation through its competitive challenges that provide prizes and awards to promising university spin outs to enable them to develop and grow.

Prizes provide university spin outs with valuable funding without equity or other requirements. For example, Converge’s 2021 Impact Challenge winner put its £30,000 cash prize towards the match funding needed to secure a smart grant from Scottish Enterprise.

Converge was developed to increase and accelerate the pipeline of new companies based on university intellectual property and talent. It has since evolved into a key national programme, open to staff, students and recent graduates from all Scottish universities who are interested in starting and growing an innovative business.

Converge has supported the creation of over 400 companies and delivered entrepreneurial training to over 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs.

Core funding is provided by the Scottish Funding Council, and all 19 Scottish universities contribute funding – a reflection of its value in Scotland’s innovation system.

SFC will deliver £478,500 in 2025-26 to Converge.