Students take to skis to net prize

Two Edinburgh University postgraduates who hope to create a ski that reacts to the texture of the snow are among 15 student teams in the final stages of competing for a £10,000 business plan prize.

Peter Watson and Mark-Paul Buckingham have formed ReacTec, a spin-off from Edinburgh's centre for materials science and engineering. It initially aims to help competition skiers with a ski whose rigidity increases or decreases according to how hard or soft the snow is.

"This technology should convert readily to benefit recreational skiers," Mr Watson said. "The adaptive ski will offer improved control and handling over existing ski technology, enhancing enjoyment for recreational skiers and making it more accessible to those new to the sport."

The Scottish Institute for Enterprise will announce the winner of its national business plan competition by the end of May, with two runners-up receiving £5,000 each.

The teams from Scotland's 13 universities have attended an SIE workshop to get advice from top entrepreneurs and technology business experts on how to prepare a business plan, including how to make a pitch to investors.

The competition, launched last December, includes a series of business and management workshops, backed by support from both business and academic mentors. The teams must present their plans by the middle of this month, with the top three plans going forward to the Springboard forum, which showcases new companies for potential investors.