Converge has shortlisted three Scottish university ventures developing climate-risk, electric vehicle battery and renewable power technologies for its 2026 awards. CatStream from Heriot-Watt University, RapidSOH from the University of Aberdeen and TA Technologies from the University of Strathclyde are among 34 finalists selected from 123 programme participants. The finalists represent a record 15 of Scotland’s 18 participating universities, marking the broadest institutional spread in Converge’s 15-year history. They will compete for a combined £410,000 prize fund across six Challenge categories and special awards, with winners due to be announced at Glasgow’s Barony Hall on 1 October.
University Research Enters The Final
The 2026 Converge finalists were selected through a judging process involving university enterprise specialists, who assessed both the underlying innovation and commercial potential of participating ventures. The shortlist places university research commercialisation firmly in view, with projects spanning environmental risk information, battery assessment and electricity transmission.
For the sustainability sector, the three named ventures illustrate how academic research can address practical issues across finance, transport and energy systems. CatStream is developing software intended to help insurers, energy companies and investors understand climate and environmental risks more quickly and accurately. RapidSOH is focused on the challenge of electric vehicle batteries after they are no longer suitable for use in a car, while TA Technologies is working on more efficient long-distance electricity movement and grid stability as renewable generation increases.
Adam Kosterka, Executive Director at Converge, said:
“It’s an extraordinarily diverse group of finalists this year. Not only do we have the largest number of universities represented among the finalists, but we’re also seeing strong representation from institutions right across Scotland’s higher education sector.
“Innovation, research commercialisation and entrepreneurship are now firmly embedded within universities across the country and we’re seeing a growing pipeline of ventures with the potential to create significant economic and societal impact.
“Reaching the final is a major achievement, but these successes are also testament to the collective effort behind them. Universities, industry, government, funders and Scotland’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem all play an important role in helping talented innovators turn their ideas into ventures with the potential to make a lasting impact.”
Climate Risk Information
CatStream, originating from Heriot-Watt University, is developing software to improve the speed and accuracy with which insurers, energy companies and investors can understand climate and environmental risks. Better information on exposure to climate-related risks can support decision-making by organisations whose investments, operations and insurance portfolios are affected by environmental conditions.
Its appearance in the Converge final reflects a wider focus on translating specialist research into ventures with a clearer route to commercial use. The shortlist identifies the venture as one of several projects responding to environmental challenges through improved access to relevant information.
In a programme that spans 15 participating universities, CatStream’s selection also demonstrates the contribution of Scotland’s higher education sector to climate-focused enterprise. The venture is part of a finalist cohort recognised by Converge for innovation, commercial potential and its ability to address major real-world challenges.
Extending Battery Value
RapidSOH from the University of Aberdeen is tackling the growing question of what happens to electric vehicle batteries when they are no longer fit for use in a car. As electric vehicles become more established within transport systems, assessing battery condition is an important consideration for determining whether units may retain value beyond their first automotive application.
The venture’s work places battery health at the centre of the transition towards lower-emission transport. Understanding the state of a battery can inform decisions around its remaining use, supporting efforts to extend the useful life of materials and equipment already in circulation.
RapidSOH is among the sustainability-focused ventures selected from the 123 participants in this year’s Converge programme. Its place in the final brings University of Aberdeen research into an awards process designed to recognise both technical innovation and commercial opportunity.
Adam Kosterka, Executive Director at Converge, said:
“Reaching the final is a major achievement, but these successes are also testament to the collective effort behind them. Universities, industry, government, funders and Scotland’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem all play an important role in helping talented innovators turn their ideas into ventures with the potential to make a lasting impact.”
Power Grid Efficiency
TA Technologies, from the University of Strathclyde, is developing technology aimed at moving electricity more efficiently over long distances while maintaining power-grid stability as greater volumes of renewable energy come online. The project addresses two connected needs within electricity systems: efficient transmission and reliable operation amid changing generation patterns.
The technology’s focus is particularly relevant to the integration of more renewable power, where grid stability remains a practical consideration alongside the expansion of clean generation capacity. TA Technologies’ inclusion in the final positions the venture among university-based projects seeking to respond to major environmental challenges through technical development.
Across the three shortlisted ventures, the Converge finalists show the range of sustainability issues being addressed through Scotland’s university sector, from climate-risk analysis to circular battery considerations and electricity infrastructure.
Awards Ceremony Ahead
The finalists will now progress to the Converge Awards, competing across six Challenge categories and a number of special awards. The £410,000 combined prize fund offers a substantial platform for the selected ventures as they seek to develop their innovations further.
With 15 universities represented, the 2026 shortlist is Converge’s widest institutional spread to date. For CatStream, RapidSOH and TA Technologies, the final provides recognition of projects connecting research capabilities with practical sustainability opportunities across climate, transport and energy.
Winners will be announced at the Converge Awards ceremony at Glasgow’s Barony Hall on 1 October.
