Projects That Are ‘Life-Changing And Lifesaving’ To Receive Government Cash

Groundbreaking university research in Scotland is set to benefit from almost £3 million of government funding aimed at turning early-stage discoveries into commercial ventures with global impact.

The new Proof of Concept fund will distribute £2.95 million across 18 projects being developed at Scotland’s universities. Among the recipients is an Edinburgh University team working on a potential new cancer drug, which researchers believe could be up to 500 times more effective than current treatments. The project has been awarded £125,000.

Other funded innovations include a laser inspection system capable of detecting faults in aircraft engines in just five minutes – a significant improvement on current tools – and a new radiation-free ultrasound technology to detect breast cancer, which could one day provide a safer alternative to mammograms.

The programme is also backing research into a sustainable alternative to palm oil, a widely used food ingredient, with the aim of producing a healthier, lower-calorie product that avoids the environmental downsides of palm cultivation.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited Edinburgh University’s Institute for Genetics and Cancer to see three of the projects in action. Speaking after Scotland’s first national innovation week, she said: “Scotland’s world-class universities have the ideas and inventions to help tackle global problems and improve lives. This fund will bridge the gap between theory and practice, translating research into real-world impact that drives economic transformation. The successful projects we are supporting are quite simply inspiring. They have the potential to be lifesaving and life-changing.”

Professor David Argyle, vice-principal at Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, welcomed the investment. “The transition from ground-breaking discovery to real-world application is one of the most critical stages in research,” he said.

“The support for pioneering cancer treatments, lab-grown tissue models and improved fault detection in aircraft engines shows how Scottish innovation can benefit lives while strengthening the economy.”

For project managers, the Proof of Concept fund underlines the importance of structured funding, stakeholder collaboration and commercialisation strategies in bridging the gap between academic research and practical deployment. Managing innovation pipelines effectively will be essential for turning promising science into scalable solutions.