VASO Global, a construction technology startup that converts waste glass into structural building panels, has raised more than £5 million in funding from PXN Ventures, Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK Loans Limited and ECO GROUP. The package includes a £1.4m seed investment from PXN Ventures, £621k from Scottish Enterprise, a £2m loan approved by Innovate UK Loans Limited (a division of UK Research and Innovation) and £800k from ECO GROUP, which will act as delivery partner for VASO Global's initial build projects. Taking waste glass and converting it into high-performance structural composite panels, VASO Global's technology is designed to deliver rapid, low-carbon, modular homes and buildings.
Responding to the UK's need to build more homes more quickly, VASO Global combines digital design, integrated manufacture and semi-autonomous construction to produce affordable, thermally efficient, low-carbon homes that can be built swiftly. The innovation has been widely discussed as a potential response to the UK and Scottish housing crisis, following the Scottish Government's declaration of a national housing emergency in 2024. On an upcoming project in Scotland, PXN Ventures expects the panels to cut construction time from 33 weeks to 10.
Based in Dumfries, VASO by Eco had previously secured £330k from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to advance the commercial roll-out of its recycled-glass building technology. VASO Global building solutions are already being explored for community-led housing projects in the South of Scotland and form part of wider collaborations with universities, architects and housing bodies. The latest funding announcement follows two senior board appointments: Graham McDonald has joined as chairman, and Douglas Morrison, Deputy CEO of Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), has joined in a non-remunerated Strategic Advisor role.
The latest funding will enable VASO Global to develop manufacturing processes at its new 60,000-square-feet manufacturing site in Dumfries, creating up to 70 jobs within the next five years as the plant adopts industrialised construction methods. It will also help VASO Global find strategic routes to market over the next two years and plan for future investment.
We want to thank all those who have seen the potential in our technology. The latest investment from PXN Ventures and Scottish Enterprise, along with all our other funders, accelerates our journey to deliver a product which can genuinely reshape how homes are delivered - cleaner, faster and with far less waste. We would like to also thank Professor Sean Smith at the University of Edinburgh for his reports and expert support, funded by the UKRI Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings, which has helped underpin VASO's plans and products to reach this stage of our development.
At PXN we back companies solving real problems, and the UK's housing shortage is about as real as they get, which is why we're proud to back Eddie and the team as they scale a genuinely sustainable way to build not just houses but other essential buildings. On top of supporting local jobs and opportunities, VASO Global's recycled composite panels enable builders to build far faster than traditional methods, with the company expecting to cut construction time from 33 weeks to 10 on an upcoming project in Scotland.
When Innovate UK launched its Prospectus in March 2025, its ambition was to foster future industry giants with the ambition to scale through their cutting-edge technologies. VASO delivers advanced materials that support clean energy goals and sustainable housing. Innovate UK's £2m innovation loan will deliver the technical and commercial maturity that will accelerate their growth.
Sustainable, affordable housing is not just a social good - it is the foundation of economic resilience. Providing thermally efficient, healthy homes supports a stable workforce, improves productivity, reduces public costs, and unlocks long-term, inclusive growth. The South of Scotland isn't always the first area on people's minds when it comes to world-first innovation and manufacturing methods. But we have some brilliant organisations and business minds in this region, and this investment will help provide valuable skills, training and job opportunities to help boost the region's economy.
