Russell Group vice-chancellors in England are jealous of Scotland's innovative proof-of-concept scheme to commercialise research, according to Tim O'Shea, principal of Edinburgh University. Professor O'Shea said the scheme, launched by national development agency Scottish Enterprise in 1999, has already created 290 jobs and supports 120 projects worth more than £19 million. The scheme backs the first stages of developing ideas before they become commercially attractive to private investors.