22 of Scotland's newest hi-tech companies will be competing for an estimated £30 million in potential investment at the EICC (conference center)in Edinburgh today.

Some 500 delegates will be attending the Technology Ventures Congress, a three-day event aimed at addressing issues facing hi-tech and university-based companies, problems in obtaining funding!

Each Scottish companies - including an Edinburgh based company "Admit Design Systems", which produces the very high resolution, low power imaging chips,- will have 12 minutes to present their ideas and business plans to leading investors and venture capitalists.

This is hopefully the start of a true 'Silicon Glen'. Venture capital has always been sorely lacking anywhere in Scotland or England, and many of our best ideas have been developed overseas as the brain drain continues.