The Converge KickStart Challenge is an early-stage entrepreneurial development programme for university staff, students and recent graduates across Scotland.  Aimed at innovative projects embarking on the first steps of the commercialisation journey, KickStart helps academic entrepreneurs, from all sectors, test and validate their business ideas with the aim of establishing commercial viability.

Among those selected for Kickstart2020 is ICoN student Spyros Daskalakis who has developed an ultra, low-cost sensor system enabling large-scale, precision farming applications.  Aiming to disrupt the Agri-Tech sector, LORAB sensors can communicate over 100s of metres without the need for batteries. The data can also be read via standard smartphone devices. With climate change having far-reaching impacts on agricultural production, farmers will no longer be able to make decisions based on their own experience. Spyros’ sensor system offers a novel alternative enabling long-term precision monitoring to radically improve farmland production and the sustainable use of resources.