- Dundee innovation lab secures £1.1 million funding for legal technology project
- Collaboration between University of Dundee and law firm Thorntons to create dedicated space for education in law and technology
- Funding aims to deepen links between Thorntons and the university, offering new career prospects for law graduates
- Project to develop innovative products and services for legal and professional services companies
- University of Strathclyde hosts bi-annual Inspire100 event, awarding funding to start-ups and entrepreneurs for innovative projects
Dundee Innovation Lab Secures £1.1 Million Funding
In a significant boost to the realms of technology and legal innovation, the University of Dundee and law firm Thorntons have successfully secured £1.1 million in funding for their collaborative legal technology project. This exciting development comes in the form of the Levelling Up award, granted by Jacob Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up, during his visit to the university. The primary objective of this substantial funding is to establish a dedicated space in Dundee where education in law and technology can seamlessly converge.
Empowering Collaboration in Legal Technology
The Dundee innovation lab project is poised to revolutionize the landscape of legal services by fostering collaboration among students, staff, and legal practitioners in the development of innovative products and services tailored for legal and other professional services companies. This innovative endeavor is not only set to deepen the existing ties between Thorntons, headquartered in Dundee, and the university but also to offer promising career prospects for law graduates entering a dynamic realm where technology plays an increasingly pivotal role.
Lesley Larg, managing partner at Thorntons, expressed immense pride in this groundbreaking project, emphasizing the remarkable opportunities it presents for their firm and the University of Dundee partners. As technology continues to permeate the legal profession at an unprecedented pace, the funding secured will position Dundee as a hub for legal innovation, thus enhancing Scotland’s ability to attract and retain top-tier legal and tech talent.
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Pioneering the Future of Legal Education
Sarah Hendry, head of Dundee Law School, lauded the investment as a catalyst for advancing the university’s cutting-edge curriculum and attracting top-tier graduates to Dundee. This infusion of funding is projected to create a multitude of highly skilled jobs in both the legal and technology sectors within the city, consequently propelling Dundee to the forefront of legal innovation. The evolving nature of legal practice necessitates a collaborative approach involving practitioners, academics, and law-tech specialists working in unison to equip future lawyers with the requisite skills to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of the workplace and society at large.
Strathclyde Inspire100 Event: Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation
In a separate yet equally compelling development, the bi-annual Strathclyde Inspire100 event witnessed six companies pitching their innovative business ideas to a captivated audience comprising entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, vying for a share of the £17,500 prize funding. The event, hosted at the Technology and Innovation Centre, showcased start-ups from the University of Strathclyde community, each seeking financial backing to propel their ventures to new heights.
The Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Award, a prestigious accolade within the entrepreneurial sphere, recognized the groundbreaking work of Dr Ralf Bauer and Dr Peter William Tinning from Electrical & Electronical Engineering at the University. They were awarded £75,000 to spearhead the development of affordable microscopy platforms, signifying a significant leap in scientific innovation. Additionally, Hamish Dow from Civil & Environmental Engineering and Dr Anthony McGarry from Biomedical Engineering were each granted an equal share of £75,000 for their respective research endeavors focused on adaptive lighting for concrete structure inspection and prosthetic limb socket design.
The Inspire100 event, facilitated by the university’s flagship entrepreneurship program, provided a platform for emerging businesses at early stages, including those partaking in the Inspire Accelerator Programme and potential spin-outs collaborating with the commercialization team, to pitch their ideas to a distinguished panel of investors and entrepreneurs. The event’s prize fund, totaling £17,500, was generously supported by the Stephen Young Foundation and Santander Universities, underscoring a collective commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the academic community.
The entrepreneurial landscape at the University of Strathclyde received a significant boost in September 2021 with a generous donation from alumnus Dr. Charles Huang through his philanthropic foundation. This philanthropic gesture funded the Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards, the Stephen Young Global Leaders’ Scholarship Programme, and the Stephen Young Institute, all established in honor of Dr. Huang’s esteemed PhD mentor, the late professor Stephen Young.
The distinguished judging panel comprising Neil Logan, Michelle Kinnaird, and Paul Wilson played a pivotal role in evaluating the innovative business pitches, further underscoring the commitment of industry experts towards nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation within academic circles.
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