Forty Years of Innovation

2008

VLSI Vision research team are awarded the prestigious Rank Prize in Optoelectronics for their pioneering work in the development of the mobile phone camera

The University and EDF Group agree to collaborate in research and development of wave and tidal current energy and electricity network integration

2007

MTEM Ltd is acquired by Norwegian oil services company for $275m, less than four years after its spin-out.

2006

Mobile Acuity Ltd spins-out from the University of Edinburgh to commercialise innovative mobile camera phone technology

Student company formation initiative is LAUNCH.ed to provide support to students at the University with business ideas

2005

The University opens ETTC BioSpace, a new ‘wet lab’ incubator facility for new life science companies

2004

MTEM Ltd raises initial investment funding of £7.4m to become the largest ever spinout from a Scottish university

The Edinburgh Pre-Incubator Scheme (EPIS) is launched to provide support to entrepreneurs in developing technology-led businesses within the University

ERI helps the University’s Centre for Communication Interface Research (CCIR) secure a £5M research agreement with Lloyds TSB Bank

2003

Wolfson Microelectronics Ltd is the second Scottish University spin-out company listed on the UK Stock Exchange

2002

DEM Solutions Ltd spins out to commercialise discrete element modelling and prototype software

Edinburgh-Stanford Link established between two world-class research centres

2001

Reactec Ltd launched to commercialise vibration control systems

Critical Blue Ltd spins out pioneer flexible, automated system design solutions for the electronic industry

University signed a collaborative agreement with Grosvenor to develop the Edinburgh Technopole science park

2000

Rhetorical Systems Ltd spin out to commercialise natural sounding text-to-speech software solutions

CALL developed CALLtalk, a ‘vocabulary package’ for children who cannot speak and who use computer-based communication aids

1999

Edinburgh and Napier Universities spin out MicroEmissive Displays to commercialise the smallest television screen in the world

The £4m Edinburgh Technology Fund is set up to provide venture capital support to new technology companies in the Edinburgh region

1998

UnivEd Technologies Ltd merges with the University’s Research Support office to become Edinburgh Research and Innovation Ltd

1997

The University hosts the first CONNECT Investment Conference for technology investors around the world

1996

UnivEd Technologies opens a new £2million Training and Conference Centre

1995

VLSI Vision PLC becomes the first Scottish university spin-out company to list on the UK Stock Exchange

1994

Oswel Research Products Ltd spin out to specialise in the synthesis of oligonucleotide molecules

1993

The University of Edinburgh is awarded Queen’s Award for Export Achievement for research and consultancy exports

1992

Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd establishes its first UK collaborative research centre at the University

1991

University selected by BT as their “preferred research partner”

1990

VLSI Vision Ltd is spun-out to commercialise an image-sensing microchip the size of a thumbnail, revolutionising the digital camera industry

1989

The University receives its first $1m royalty cheque from BIOGEN NV from licensing the Hepatitis B diagnostic kit and vaccine

1988

The University opens the Edinburgh Technology Transfer Centre first incubation centre on campus

1987

The University of Edinburgh’s CALL Centre develops the award-winning Smart Wheelchair

1986

British Technology Group backs UnivEd’s technology transfer activities with £400,000

1985

University establishes its first venture capital fund to support new spin-out companies

1984

Major industrial research initiative with Plessey Company aims to develop first speech-driven word processor
Wolfson Microelectronics Ltd is spun-out from the University to provide integrated circuit design services

1983

The Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Liaison becomes a University subsidiary called UnivEd Technologies Ltd

1982

The University spins out Bioscot Ltd, one of Scotland’s first biotechnology companies, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University

1981

The University spins out Integrated Micro Applications Ltd in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University

1980

Biologist, Professor Kenneth Murray develops the first genetically-engineered Hepatitis B vaccine

1979

Wolfson Microelectronics Institute develops a new generation of communications systems for deep-sea diving in a development contract with the Admiralty

1974

Wolfson Liquid Chromatography Unit starts collaborative research project that would lead to the development of revolutionary high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) column packing materials

1973

The Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Liaison launches the University’s technology transfer scheme to incentivise the commercialisation of research

1972

Professor David Brock pioneers amniocentesis tests in pre-natal screening

1971

The Centre for Industrial Consultancy & Liaison hosts the University’s first Technology Expo

1969

FREDDY, the first automated industrial assembly robot was developed at the University