CONNECT, the Scottish technology initiative, has revealed that its pioneering investment conference has secured more than Pounds 6 million for emerging technology companies. Director Ian McDonald said: "This is an excellent result and we are expecting other significant deals to be signed in the near future." The project, which holds its second conference next month, aims to commercialise scientific research. Connect is modelled on a scheme set up by the University of California in San Diego, heralded as a catalyst in the transformation of the region, and resulting in 60,000 new jobs.