Innovation

A new app from conservation charity Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is set to transform the way that members of the public and boat operators can help gather vital scientific data about whales, dolphins and porpoises off Scotland’s west coast, where 24 of the world’s estimated 92 cetacean species have already been recorded. 

Applications from Scottish businesses are being sought for the Queen's Awards for Enterprise by 1 September 2017. 

Local Energy Scotland is inviting rural businesses such as farmers, land managers, crofters and rural Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to come forward with innovative project proposals by the 20th September 2017.

The new fund aims to support proposals focusing on low carbon, renewables and whole system projects including, but not limited to, aspects of heat, electricity, transport, and energy management and ownership.

Chris Morris, manager, Local Energy Scotland, said:

An new food arts project will bring an interactive installation to the coastline of Portree this September.

The CLIMAVORE: On Tidal Zones sees ATLAS Arts, based on Skye, work in partnership with internationally acclaimed Cooking Sections - artists Daniel Fernández Pascual & Alon Schwabe.

You now get key messages and highlights from a European seminar on rural business innovation.

The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) seminar on 'Revitalising Rural Areas through Business Innovation' took place on 30 March 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.

The seminar explored how rural businesses – both farm and non-farm – can innovate in ways that "create the conditions for future prosperity and vitality" as articulated in the Cork 2.0 Declaration.

A research and innovation company is looking to acquire samples from anaerobic digesters used to dispose of sheep waste.

Dr Adam Ostrowski works at the Dundee-based APS Biocontrol where they develop biocontrol measures to extend the shelf life of fresh produce. Their technology is based on the use of bacteriophages, naturally occurring antagonists of bacteria, which can be found in the same environment as the bacteria they target.

The 2017 SURF Awards are now open for entries in five categories.

The SURF Awards are open to all community regeneration projects in Scotland that are currently in place or that have been completed within two years of the closing date.

The awards:

In a new projects brochure from the European Network for Rural Development you can find out how Rural Development Programme funding has been used to support rural business across Europe.

The Supporting Rural Business projects brochure highlights inspiring examples of how to provide advice, training and networking opportunities to rural businesses, as well as targeted investment in the digital and physical infrastructure needed by rural business, both on-farm and in other rural sectors of activity.

A summary report from the recent 'Digital Innovation Hubs: mainstreaming digital agriculture' seminar is now available.

The EIP-AGRI event took place in Kilkenny Ireland on 1-2 June 2017. Around 150 people from 25 countries across Europe got together to share experiences, discuss needs and identify priority actions for developing Digital Innovation Hubs for agriculture.

The AgriForValor H2020 project has launched a national call for applications for the 'Bio- Enterprise Academy', an intensive support program for researchers and entrepreneurs.

The Academy is designed for innovators with cutting edge ideas, solutions & technologies for the valorisation of biomass & biomass sidestreams from the agri & forestry sectors.

The highest potential innovations will be selected to join the program which will run (in Ireland) from November 2017 - February 2018.