A SKIN patch that warns of sunburning, created by Strathclyde University, is among five innovative projects to share £1million in funding.

Researchers developed the range of inexpensive skin patch solar UV indicators, which change colour when the wearer is about to sunburn.

Four other projects from Scotland's universities and research institutions were announced yesterday at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh. They are all being backed by Scottish Enterprise's Proof of Concept Programme.

The projects are the final five in the programme's Round 8 awards.

They were chosen for support as they have the potential to result in innovative spin-out companies and/or licensing agreements to existing businesses, which will ultimately help grow Scotland's economy.

Each project had to demonstrate the quality of the research idea and the market demand for the resulting product or service.

Another Strathclyde University project was awarded a slice of the £1m funding.

It's a non-invasive way of monitoring patients' health without the need for taking blood samples, leading to better patient monitoring on the ward or at home.

Greater Glasgow Health Board was also awarded funding for a process to allow tissue metabolic activity to be determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the first time.

This will help diagnose and treat a range of clinical conditions, such as stroke, heart attack and cancer.

In total, 21 projects have been awarded £4.4m of funding in Round 8 of the programme.

To date, it has invested £38.76m in 206 projects, resulting in 40 spin-out companies and 38 licencing deals, creating 500 jobs, and leveraging £210m of public and private investment.