E.V.A Biosystems Awarded Scottish Enterprise SMART: SCOTLAND Grant for Innovative Bioplastics Technology

In October, E.V.A Biosystems, an early stage bioplastics company within IBioIC’s Biotech Innovators accelerator program, was awarded a prestigious Scottish Enterprise SMART: SCOTLAND grant. The feasibility study award is also made possible by investment from Old College Capital through their Launch fund as match funding. This grant, which comes as a testament to E.V.A Biosystems' commitment to advancing biotechnology and environmental responsibility, will provide 15 months of invaluable research and development resources to further enhance their novel bioplastics technology.

E.V.A Biosystems is developing advanced bioplastics, which incorporate synthetic biological components designed to sense their surrounding conditions. These will then selectively break down when activated by specific environments, such as seawater. This novel approach to plastic manufacturing hopes to address the global plastic pollution crisis by offering a sustainable and scalable alternative to non-biodegradable plastics.

During the 15-month grant period, E.V.A Biosystems will focus on critical research and development efforts aimed at improving their bioplastics technology. The company aims to enhance both plastic degradation and biosensing, and test these systems within more commercially relevant plastic applications. This advancement is expected to open up new avenues for the widespread adoption of bioplastics in various industries, reducing the environmental footprint associated with plastic waste and disposal.

E.V.A Biosystems's CEO and founder, Dr Alexander Speakman, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the Scottish Enterprise SMART: SCOTLAND grant, saying, "Receiving this grant and match funding from Old College Capital is an incredibly significant milestone for E.V.A Biosystems, as well as recognition of the company’s dedication to creating sustainable solutions. This is the biggest step the company has taken so far, and I am extremely grateful for the support of Scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital, Edinburgh Innovations and IBioIC that has enabled me to reach this point. This is a golden opportunity to enhance our bioplastics technology and bring us closer to a future where plastics no longer pose a threat to our environment, and I couldn’t more excited to get started.”

The feasibility study will enable E.V.A Biosystems to conduct in-depth research, refine their processes, and fine-tune their bioplastics to meet the requirements of commercial applications. By developing bioplastics that can replace traditional plastics without compromising performance, E.V.A Biosystems is poised to make a lasting impact on the sustainability landscape.