New Scottish Enterprise award to commercialise advanced computing research

Professor Kevin Hammond of the University of St Andrews has been awarded £137,000 commercialisation funding through the Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spinout Programme to investigate the commercial potential for advanced computing research.

The technology exploits new “refactoring” techniques that guide developers to produce the best possible software, by exploiting hidden patterns within their computer programs.

The grant will allow the team to investigate the best avenues for commercial development, with a view to establishing a major new software venture in Scotland.

Following on from successful work funded by the European Union through an on-going Horizon 2020 project and recent Framework 7 projects, Rephrase and Paraphrase, totalling over 7 million euros, and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the team has pushed back the barriers for using a new generation of advanced, energy-efficient computers that will power everything from future smart homes and smart cars to the supercomputers that are used to make scientific and medical advances.

Professor Hammond said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to make the results of our research available for use by software developers world-wide.  While experts can handle the complexities of advanced ‘manycore’ computers, others can find it incredibly hard to write effective parallel software.  Our technology will both improve productivity and reduce expensive software errors. It will also contribute to ‘greener’ computing.”

Eleanor Mitchell, Director of High Growth Ventures at Scottish Enterprise, said: “We are delighted to be supporting a project of this calibre and excited by its potential to impact the advanced computing industry.  This is one of the products used by the High Growth Ventures team to provide intensive support to build strong founding teams and an understanding of how to compete internationally in the early stages of building companies which have the potential to scale rapidly and exploit technologies in global markets.

Notes to news editors:

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main economic development agency and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy.

The High Growth Spinout Programme helps researchers take their ideas and inventions from the lab to the global marketplace by awarding funding and support.

Professor Hammond is available for interview. Contact Communications Office.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office, contactable on 01334 467310 or [email protected].