Innovation

CassioPeia is Among the Finalists in Converge 2025! Pioneering Clean Water Solution from UHI

A groundbreaking water treatment innovation developed at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has been named among the finalists in the prestigious Converge Kickstart Challenge competition 2025, Scotland’s leading programme for university-led entrepreneurship.

CassioPeia, a project born from cutting-edge research at UHI’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), is developing a low-cost, chemical-free filtration system designed to recover valuable phosphorus (P) from wastewater. Using a carbon-based “sponge” like material, capable of capturing phosphorus even at very low concentrations, the system offers a scalable and sustainable solution to one of the most pressing environmental challenges, nutrient pollution.

The inspiration behind CassioPeia is deeply personal. Co-founder Dr Szabolcs Pap, a Research Fellow at ERI, was motivated by childhood experiences growing up in a town affected by arsenic pollution.

“I witnessed firsthand the consequences of poor drinking water quality on human health and society,” he said. “That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to water treatment and a desire to develop practical solutions to global water challenges.”

CassioPeia stands out in the Converge 2025 cohort for its combination of environmental impact, affordability, and circular economy potential. The project not only prevents phosphorus pollution in rivers and lakes but also contributes to the UK’s Net Zero and zero-waste ambitions.

Through the KickStart Challenge, CassioPeia has refined its value proposition, gained critical feedback from industry experts, and built momentum toward a future spin-out company.

“Our goal is to deliver clean water where it’s most urgently needed,” said Dr Pap. “Converge has been instrumental in helping us transform our research into a viable business opportunity.”

With finalists drawn from 12 universities and spanning various technologies, Converge 2025 showcases the power of university-led innovation to solve real-world problems and improve lives.

ERI’s Dr Mark Taggart (co-founder) said “CassioPeia is a shining example of how local research can drive global impact”.