Latest news with #ZOEX
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Plenty of Scottish heroics in May, both home and abroad
Welcome to our new free newsletter celebrating all that is going well in Scotland! Subscribe using the banner above. I THINK we could all learn a thing or two from Hiroshi Suzuki. The Japanese ambassador to the UK visited Scotland in May, including official meetings with the First Minister and the Presiding Office. But he also took to some tourist hotspots in Edinburgh, and partook in some Scottish delicacies, joking at one point that he had eaten some Tunnock's teacakes "for breakfast". In a video posted on social media, he could also be seen trying Haggis and a dram of whisky, which he said he "enjoyed". "It's fantastic!" he added, with a thumbs up to the camera. It's Suzuki's boundless optimism that has made him a viral social media star. And perhaps we can all take a leaf out of that book. And so, on that note, our positive stories in Scotland in May. First up, I always love to see Scots thriving abroad. And last month, you can look no further than footballer Scott McTominay (below). The Scotland international is a literal hero in Naples after his instrumental role in helping Napoli FC to their fourth ever Serie A title. Crowned as the whole league's player of the season, the streets of Naples were literally draped in saltires and graffiti of the man they now call 'McFratm' – or McBro. He even met the pope (above)! On the more cultural side, a Scottish director's film set during the Highland Clearances has also made waves at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Ian Gordon, from Fife, travelled to the internationally renowned film festival in France to promote his fantasy adventure movie, The Gudeman, where he learnt to build animatronic 'creatures' from scratch. And people working in the film industry from around the world were blown away at the festival by the dramatic scenery of the Highlands, which provides the backdrop for his adventure. As they should! I was also pleased to hear Edinburgh is now home to Europe's first museum of contemporary Palestinian art. The Palestine Museum in Scotland features work from a range of Palestinian artists showcasing paintings, sculptures and installations. The museum aims to counteract the 'dehumanisation' of the Palestinian people by illustrating their culture and narrative through art. I mentioned it will be opening in my last newsletter but it is now open for business. I am yet to visit but my colleague, Laura, said it was deeply moving. In business news, the UK's only female-founded wave energy company has secured more than half a million in funding to scale up its technology. Aberdeen-based ZOEX secured £531,000 in funding including investment from Equity Gap, one of Scotland's leading angel investment syndicates, Strathclyde University and Scottish Enterprise. Founded by entrepreneur, CEO Ash Penley (above), ZOEX aims to replace diesel generators with "clean, cost-effective wave power". While I understand Scotland's fishing industry isn't best pleased by the new UK-EU deal governing post-Brexit arrangements, I was heartened to see some positive movements. For example, while a return to freedom of movement has frustratingly been ruled out by Labour, they have agreed to look at a limited scheme aimed at young people. The UK rejoining the Erasmus+ scheme, which sees students do part of their degree at an institution abroad, is also floated in the deal. If finalised, this would be a win for young Scots. If there's anything you think should be included, please don't hesitate to ping me an email:
The National
27-05-2025
- Business
- The National
UK's only female-founded wave energy firm secures £531k in funding
Aberdeen-based ZOEX secured £531,000 in funding including investment from Equity Gap, one of Scotland's leading angel investment syndicates, The University of Strathclyde and Scottish Enterprise. The private investment by Equity Gap has been matched by Scottish Enterprise unlocking a contribution of £196,000 from Innovate UK, enabling the company to scale development of its wave energy converter technology. The 100kW full scale prototype, which was tested in Aberdeen Harbour last year, will now be transported to Ordu, Turkey and tested there for a year to assess the seasonal performance differences. READ MORE: New campaign launched to remind tourists to drive on left in Scotland Founded by entrepreneur, CEO Ash Penley, ZOEX aims to replace diesel generators with "clean, cost-effective wave power". The system can be deployed across various blue economy sectors such as aquaculture fish farms, offshore wind, oil and gas, and remote ports and harbours. To date, Penley has raised over a million in public and private funding for the venture. Wave energy is the most concentrated form of renewable energy on earth, with power density much higher than wind and solar energy. With the global wave and tidal energy market projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $19.8 billion by 2032, ZOEX is hoping to position itself to lead in both niche and large-scale markets. READ MORE: Prosecutors overturn 'lenient' sentence for Scotland Office protester Commenting on the project, Penley said: 'This investment is a huge step forward for ZOEX and for women in marine energy. Our technology has been designed not just to survive at sea, but to thrive efficiently, sustainably, and at scale. "We're grateful for the latest backing from Equity Gap, Scottish Enterprise and The University of Strathclyde, who share our vision for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.' Fraser Lusty, managing director of Equity Gap added: 'At Equity Gap, we're focused on backing bold innovation and exceptional founders. ZOEX ticks both boxes. Ash has built a solution with global potential, and we're proud to play a part in helping this technology reach the market.' READ MORE: Scottish airports face summer disruption as strikes loom Derek Shaw, director of entrepreneurship and investment at Scottish Enterprise said: 'Our investment in Zoex underscores our commitment to creating an internationally competitive energy transition industry in Scotland. "By supporting ambitious companies in areas such as wave energy we can help them drive innovation and capitalise on the significant economic opportunities linked to the shift from the production and consumption of fossil fuels to sources of renewable energy.'
