The business - founded in March 2003, to exploit opportunities arising in the emerging fuel cells and hydrogen industries - specialises in designing, developing, installing and maintaining hydrogen and fuel-cell systems.

The company was seeking second-round funding of GBP400,000 to GBP1million, which it intended to invest in product development and demonstration applications, new facilities and additional staff.

David Raeside, siGEN's commercial director, said: "It's been fascinating to meet other companies at a similar stage of their development and discover they're facing similar challenges to us. While the market in Aberdeen is extremely healthy, I think we can benefit from the wider exposure which Connect provides, in the sense of meeting a wider circle of investors and raising our profile.

"Scotland has a great opportunity to become a world leader in this area, as we are rich in renewable resources and, particularly in Aberdeen, can capitalise on the existing skilled pool of energy-sector workers." Two other Aberdeen businesses took part in Connect's technology showcase session, a new initiative to give earlier-stage companies the opportunity to share their ideas with investors.

Virtual Well Engineer, which produces well-engineering design software, and MIPStix, with its range of environ- mental monitoring tools, took the opportunity to network with investors and the broader technology business community.

Inverness based AWS Ocean Energy, a specialist in renewable wave energy, and north-east based biodiesel producer Puregen also participated in the session.

Reflecting on the conference, Dorothy Burke, Connect Scotland's regional director for the north, said: "Looking ahead, investment should continue to be a major focus area for Scotland's brightest technology hopes.

"We are delighted to see so many promising early-stage companies from this area and know they offer key opportunities to investors and bode well for the future of technology business in the north of Scotland."