University start-up RAB-Microfluidics has finished 2018 on a high after scooping a £60,000 prize at the Scottish EDGE awards.
Scottish EDGE is a competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent.
The annual awards ceremony, which this year was held in Edinburgh, saw RAB-Microfluidics included among 23 winners in the main EDGE category, which gives up to £100k to businesses.
Close to 40 finalists pitched their business ideas to an expert panel of judges, chaired by Simon Hannah of Filshill and Kerry Sharp of the Scottish Investment Bank, live at The Royal Bank of Scotland Conference Centre at Gogarburn.
RAB-Microfluidics’ win marks the end of a successful year for the University start-up, which has developed a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ condition monitoring device which can detect early signs of equipment failure.
The company recently secured the £60,000 BP Technology Prize through the Oil and Gas Technology Centre’s TechX Accelerator Programme, which aims to accelerate the introduction of promising technologies that might benefit the oil and gas industry.
As a result, it is now undergoing a 12-month incubator to grow their business in the north-east, allowing the region to reap the benefits of their development.
Commenting on RAB-Microfluidics’ latest success in the Scottish EDGE awards, Managing Director Rotimi Alabi, a University graduate whose PhD project was the catalyst for the development of the technology, said:
“‘We are delighted to be one of the winners in the very competitive Scottish EDGE awards.
“The quality of finalists is a testament to the rich innovation and entrepreneurial culture in Scotland but most importantly, we are proud to be representing the North-East and drawing attention to the quality of research that comes out from the University of Aberdeen.
“I hope this and our story can inspire a student or member of staff to take the first step on their own entrepreneurship journey.”