UHI projects named finalists in Scotland’s top innovation competition

Two pioneering projects from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have been announced as finalists in the 2025 Converge competition – Scotland’s leading programme for turning academic ideas into real-world impact.

Both projects are shortlisted in the Kickstart Challenge, which supports early-stage ideas with the potential to deliver social, environmental or economic benefit.

➕ CassioPeia

CassioPeia developed by Dr Szabolcs Pap, Research Fellow at the UHI Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at UHI North, West and Hebrides’ Thurso campus, is a low-cost, chemical-free filtration system designed to recover valuable phosphorus from wastewater.

Using a carbon-based ‘sponge’ that captures phosphorus even at very low concentrations, the system offers a scalable, sustainable solution to nutrient pollution, preventing runoff into rivers and lakes while recycling phosphorus into agriculture, supporting the UK’s Net Zero and zero-waste goals.

For Dr Pap, who co-founded CassioPeia with ERI colleague Dr Mark Taggart, the inspiration for the project is deeply personal:

“I witnessed firsthand the consequences of poor drinking water quality on human health and society while growing up in a town affected by arsenic pollution. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to water treatment and a desire to develop practical solutions to global water challenges.

“Our goal is to deliver clean water where it’s most urgently needed. Converge has been instrumental in helping us transform our research into a viable business opportunity.”

➕ Gestura

Created by Christopher Kaan Caudwell, a computer science student at UHI Perth, Gestura is an AI-powered app that uses a smartphone camera to translate sign language into speech, and speech back into sign language, in real time. Designed to work in everyday settings such as hospitals, banks and public transport where interpreters may not be available, the app aims to reduce barriers, improve communication and support independence for millions of people worldwide.

Christopher said:

“Gestura started as a dream to make communication truly inclusive, and now with the support of Converge, we’re on the path to making that dream a reality. This opportunity marks the beginning of something much bigger: a world where no one is excluded from the conversation.”

Vicki Nairn, UHI Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of both UHI finalists. These projects show the creativity and ambition of our student and research community. Both CassioPeia and Gestura tackle real societal challenges with practical, scalable solutions that could have significant impact in Scotland and beyond.”

Adam Kosterka, Converge Executive Director, said:

“It’s inspiring to see this year’s finalists reach such a pivotal stage in their entrepreneurial journey. What really stands out is their remarkable ability to translate cutting-edge university research into tangible solutions with real-world impact, perfectly highlighting the profound potential embedded within our universities. Converge is immensely proud to champion the groundbreaking work and entrepreneurial spirit emerging from Scotland’s universities and this year’s outstanding pool of finalists is testament to this.” 

The 2025 finalists were selected from a highly competitive pool through a rigorous judging process. With the prize fund nearly doubled this year, successful projects will receive increased early-stage funding and business support.

Winners will be announced at the Converge Awards on Thursday 2 October at Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh.

See the full list of finalists on the Converge website: Meet the finalists driving human-centred innovation