Progress towards UN SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
Our research
A Cold War-era armoured building close to the Mull of Kintyre is set to see action again as the base for a cutting-edge rocket test and teaching facility. The facility, called MachLab, has opened at a business park on the site of the former RAF Machrahanish airbase near Campbeltown.
MachLab was established by researchers from the University of Glasgow and backed by close to £500,000 in funding from industry, including matched contribution from the UK Space Agency. It aims to support the research and development of new rocket engines capable of delivering up to one tonne of thrust.
Researchers from academia and industry will be able to fire experimental rocket designs and gather data on their performance using MachLab’s custom-built test stand. MachLab will also help establish the UK’s next generation of rocket engineers through specialist training, including a University of Glasgow-led programme called Rocketry Research Teaching Training, or R2T2. The programme, also funded by the UK Space Agency, will bring rocketry students from all over the UK to MachLab to develop their skills and test new rocket designs.
Researchers from the University and Florida State University have developed an innovative enhancement to artificial intelligence that improves how machine learning models analyse location-based data. The project focused on TabPFN, a foundation model designed to make predictions from tabular datasets such as spreadsheets and databases. While effective in many applications, the model struggled to interpret the spatial relationships that are essential in geospatial data.
To address this challenge, the team created Geospatial Sparse Attention (GSA), a framework that enables the model to prioritise geographically relevant information and better understand how nearby locations influence each other. The resulting open-source tool, TabPFN-GSA, enhances prediction accuracy while improving performance on much larger datasets.
The researchers evaluated the model using 30 synthetic datasets and four real-world case studies, including air pollution monitoring, US election results, housing prices, and poverty data. The enhanced model consistently delivered more reliable predictions and successfully processed datasets that the original version could not handle.
The innovation has broad applications across academia, government and industry, supporting evidence-based decision-making on issues such as public health, climate change, housing and public services.
The mission of RISE@UofG is to harness the expertise of successful University entrepreneurs to strengthen and promote entrepreneurship across campus.
Learning & teaching
The Masters in International Management & Design Innovation is delivered jointly by the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and the Adam Smith Business School, this programme equips you with skills in design-led management. The Masters programme helps students gain a deep understanding of how design drives innovation in global business contexts, equipping learners with skills to lead and manage design-driven projects across diverse industries. The programme also benefits from access to a dynamic studio environment at Glasgow School of Art, fostering creativity and collaboration with designers and academics in a real-world context.
The University’s Curriculum for Life Creativity & Innovation theme equips students with the skills, mindsets and confidence needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Through a range of interdisciplinary courses, including Languages, Utopia and the Construction of Knowledge; Our University: Past, Present, World-Changing Future; Playing the World; Screen Futures: Working in the Global Screen Industries; and Intercultural Literacies, students are encouraged to think creatively, communicate effectively and develop innovative responses to complex challenges.
The theme places a strong emphasis on collaboration, imagination and global awareness, helping students build transferable skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, critical thinking and intercultural competence. These capabilities are increasingly valued by employers and are essential for addressing contemporary social, cultural and economic challenges.
By integrating creativity and innovation into the student experience, the University aims to develop future-ready graduates who can understand the world from different perspectives and contribute positively to society.
University operations
A cohort of young ventures has hailed Scotland’s first deeptech accelerator a success after concluding a 13-week intensive skills programme.
The Infinity G programme kicked off in October 2024 with 15 groundbreaking companies – in sectors from AI and quantum computing to biotechnology - embarking on a series of workshops and training sessions, where participants underwent company-building mentorship, refined their pitches, and honed their business strategies.
One of the final events was a Final Demo Day & Product Showcase, where the ventures presented their businesses to active investors and successfully demonstrated their incredible transformation over the course of the programme.
Feedback on Infinity G – delivered in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and the Smart Things Accelerator Centre based at Skypark within Glasgow Riverside Innovation District - has been positive.
Designed to accelerate excellence, Infinity G creates the optimal conditions for research-driven ventures to achieve global societal impact and become investment-ready. The programme supports deeptech innovators across fields such as AI & Machine Learning, Health and Biotech, Quantum Computing, Sensing and Communications, Advanced Materials, Robotics, Space, and more.
RISE@UofG was established by the University to support researchers seeking to transform research-driven innovations into commercial ventures. Recognising that the journey from research to market can be complex and challenging, the initiative provides a community where academic founders can access peer support, entrepreneurial expertise and practical guidance throughout the commercialisation process.
Researchers pursuing commercial opportunities often face unfamiliar challenges, including product development, manufacturing, securing translational funding, engaging with investors and developing entrepreneurial skills. RISE@UofG was created to address these barriers by connecting founders with experienced entrepreneurs from across the University community who can share knowledge, insights and mentorship.
RISE@UofG also hosts regular events that provide opportunities for learning, collaboration and engagement with investors and industry partners.
Through its combination of mentorship, networking opportunities, policy engagement and founder support, RISE@UofG helps create an environment where innovative research can achieve real-world impact.
Civic engagement
Deep-tech pioneer Chemify - the University of Glasgow’s Spin-out of the Year 2024 - has performed the grand opening of its first Chemifarm – a new £12m production facility in Maryhill.
Founded in 2022, Chemify grew from Professor Lee Cronin’s research in digital chemistry at the University and is fusing chemistry, robotics, computation and AI to digitise molecule creation.
The 21,500-ft² site at Oakbank Industrial Estate, off Garscube Road, unites Chemify’s AI-driven molecular-design engine with industrial-scale robotic synthesis, compressing the journey from concept to compound and accelerating the discovery of small-molecule medicines and next-generation materials for partners tackling society’s toughest challenges.
The £12 million project is backed by Innovate UK’s Innovation Accelerator programme, Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow City Region.
The University’s Summer Startup Programme is helping students, graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into viable businesses through a comprehensive programme of enterprise support and skills development. Delivered by the University’s Student & Graduate Enterprise team, the initiative keeps entrepreneurial activity thriving on campus throughout the summer months, creating opportunities for participants to develop practical business knowledge and commercial confidence.
Running across June, July and August, the programme offers expert-led workshops covering every stage of the startup journey. Participants benefit from guidance from business consultants, entrepreneurs, legal specialists and industry leaders.
In 2026, the programme attracted 87 participants, with women representing 55% of attendees. Through partnerships such as the Innovation3 Exchange, the initiative also supports collaboration across institutions. By fostering entrepreneurial skills, innovation and enterprise, the Summer Startup Programme contributes to economic development while empowering students and graduates to create positive social and commercial impact.
SDG 9: Policies and practice
