Run by Interface, the 3rd Annual Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards is set to take place on Thursday, 22 February 2018. The awards are intended to reward, recognise and celebrate the impacts achieved through collaborative business / academic partnerships in Scotland.

By promoting and celebrating knowledge exchange, this type of event encourages more businesses to consider Scotland’s universities and research institutions as a collaborative partner to stimulate innovation. Such partnerships bring significant benefits to the country’s economy, society and higher education.

The shortlisted finalists are:

Innovation of the Year

For an innovative product, process or service that has been developed with a university, research institute or college partner, facilitated by Interface/Interface Food & Drink/Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher Funding Programme:

• Dolce Stil Novo Sound (West Lothian) and University of Strathclyde
• Norscot Joinery Ltd (Caithness) and University of Strathclyde
• Windswept and Interesting (Isle of Lewis) and University of Strathclyde

Building skills through Knowledge Exchange

Recognising final year students, Postgraduate students or Knowledge Transfer Partnership [KTP] Associates who have worked within a business on a specific project to enhance innovation:

• Dr Hassan Al-Budairi, KTP Associate of the School of Engineering, University of Glasgow
• Dr Neil Thomson, KTP Associate from the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde
• Petra Crocker, KTP Associate from Edinburgh Napier University with Multiply UK Ltd in Edinburgh

Social and Environmental Impact

For a collaborative business-academic project that has produced significant social or environmental impacts contributing towards a better, fairer and more sustainable future:

• Dornoch Environmental Enhancement Project (Tain), pioneered by The Glenmorangie Company in partnership with Heriot-Watt University and the Marine Conservation Society
• Leuchie House, North Berwick and Queen Margaret University
• Moock Environmental Solutions Ltd (Cumbernauld) and University of Dundee

Multiparty Collaboration

For a partnership that has demonstrated long term benefits to both the business and the academic teams:

• AALART – Low-pixel Automatic Target Detection and Recognition: Thales UK, University of the West of Scotland and CENSIS Innovation Centre 
• E-frail: CM2000, Edinburgh Napier University, East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership, Loreburn Housing Association, Digital Health and Care Institute Innovation Centre 
• European Lead Factory: University of Dundee European Screening Centre Newhouse, BioAscent Discovery, Pivot Park Screening Centre, Lygature, the University of Oxford and 30 private and public partners across Europe
• Scottish Enterprise Open Innovation Programme: Scottish Enterprise, University of Strathclyde, Subsea 7, Stena Line, Doosan Babcock, Weir Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, NHS, Glasgow City Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Devro, SP Energy Networks, NCR, Raytheon. 

Outstanding Contribution to Knowledge Exchange

Recognises an individual who has played a pivotal role in knowledge exchange in Scotland:

• Dr Annie Hill, Associate Professor, International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, Heriot-Watt University.
• Professor Bill Buchanan, Professor in the School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University.
• Professor Mark Bradley, Professor of High-Throughput Chemical Biology, University of Edinburgh

The awards ceremony will be hosted at the Royal Bank of Scotland Conference Centre in Gogarburn, Edinburgh on February 22 2018. Attendees will be treated to a diverse range of speakers from business, academic and knowledge exchange. You can register for the event online.