The 2023 finalists — previously covered by DIGIT — were chosen by a panel of judges from across the business support ecosystem. Alongside championing collaborations that demonstrate innovation, impact, and transformation, the Awards also aim to recognise the people contributing to valuable knowledge exchange.

The winners of this year’s Awards are:

Innovation of the Year (sponsored by HGF Ltd)
Sustainable Thinking Scotland CIC and University of the Highlands and Islands for the optimisation of biochar; a stable form of carbon obtained from baking waste wood. This biochar assists in tackling nutrient pollution, preventing toxic, algal blooms, whilst improving water quality, filtering algae, reducing particulates in water, and providing a carbon biochar that can be re-used on land as a slow-release fertiliser.

Innovator of the Future (sponsored by SCI Scotland Group)
Joint winners: Ed Blissitt, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate from the University of Aberdeen, who collaborated with Motive Offshore Group Ltd on the development of a novel ‘digital winch’ technology that integrated sensors and IT hardware into existing equipment.

Dr Emmanuel I. Epelle, KTP Associate from the University of the West of Scotland, who collaborated with Advanced Clothing Solutions to develop a novel and automated decontamination process.

As well as the winners, Dr Shu Yang, KTP Associate from the University of the West of Scotland, was Highly Commended for collaborating with Consult Lift Services to embed leadership and management skills alongside modern business systems and processes.

Knowledge Exchange Champion
Professor Naeem Ramzan, University of the West of Scotland, is an international scientist, engineer, and innovator in artificial intelligence and multimedia processing. He actively supports knowledge exchange projects from grassroots level through to providing strategic insights for industry thought-leaders.

Knowledge Exchange Heroes (sponsored by PraxisAuril)
University of the West of Scotland KTP Centre for delivering business, societal, and environmental impact — as well as propelling the careers of the next generation of business leaders in the UK and internationally through a culture of support, recognition, and excellence in customer service.

Making a Social Difference (sponsored by CEIS)
Child Rights Coalition Asia, Terre des hommes and other partners with the University of Strathclyde’s Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures for developing the COVID 4P (Protection, Provision, Participation, Prevention) Log for Children’s Wellbeing in urgent response to the rapidly developing pandemic emergency and the adverse implications for children’s rights worldwide.

Making an Environmental Difference (sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland)
The University of Edinburgh, The Arctic University of Norway, FH Burgenland, Technical University of Varna, Alicante University and business partner G-Force for their collaborative work on the CloudEARTHi project in developing, testing, and commercialising a new business framework that supports start-up companies to embed net zero, circular principles into their business models.

Multiparty Collaboration
The Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD) comprising nearly 40 partners from across industry, including the NHS and the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, and Aberdeen. With twin tracks in radiology and pathology, iCAIRD’s programme of work is establishing the infrastructure and environment required to support development, validation, and deployment of AI technologies for use in healthcare.

Powerful Partnership
The University of Glasgow and National Nuclear Laboratory for pioneering research in the field of muography, using natural radiation produced in the upper atmosphere to shed unique light on the contents of shielded nuclear waste containers.

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“Today’s awards showcase the impactful collaborations between businesses and the academic community and their role in translating Scotland’s world-class research into knowledge that makes Impact,” said Mr Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, on the announcement of the winners.

“Bringing together Scotland’s businesses with the knowledge, expertise and networks of our research community is central to achieving the ambitions of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation and our upcoming Innovation Strategy, both in creating the inventions and innovations of the future, and in supporting translation of these into impact and opportunity.”

Professor Andrea Nolan, Chair of the Interface Strategic Board and Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, also commented, saying: “The annual flagship awards event for business-academic partnerships have gone from strength to strength since launching eight years ago. They celebrate the very best of people and partnerships involved in shaping game-changing innovations across Scotland.”

The Awards, as was the case last year, were hosted by Interface.