University of St Andrews hails £1m boost to develop test space, helping SMEs

The University of St Andrews has been awarded just over £1 million to develop a “world-class” test space that it says will enable academics, technicians and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to work together at its Eden Campus site.

The university has been awarded £1.128 million. Picture: Jane Barlow.

The Scottish Government-supported funding was secured through the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund (AMCF) and announced by economy secretary Fiona Hyslop. The AMCF is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The total investment is £15.8m across 12 projects, with £8.3m from the European Regional Development Fund, £590,000 from the Scottish Government, and the remainder in match funding from the chosen projects.

Derek Watson called the investment 'a welcome vote of confidence in our operations at Eden Campus'. Pictured: contributed.

The university said the project at Eden Campus in Guardbridge near St Andrews will enhance innovation in companies working in energy storage and conversion, by providing scale-up facilities for moving research and development into early prototyping and proving technology before moving to large-scale manufacture.

St Andrews chief operating officer Derek Watson said: “This investment is a welcome vote of confidence in our operations at Eden Campus. Supporting entrepreneurship is at the heart of the University strategy and the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund provides us with a significant step change opportunity to target SMEs.

“The manufacture, test and development space will be open to all companies, large and small, with a recognition of the nurturing and networking obligations among the wider network of larger companies in our support of SMEs.”

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