The finalists of the seventh Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards have been revealed, showing the strength of partnership between businesses, organisations and academics in Scotland.
The awards are organised by Interface and mark the biggest celebration of knowledge exchange between businesses and academics in Scotland, showcasing the achievements of collaborative partnerships and individuals alike.
The finalists are:
COVID-19 Collaborative Response
Abergower Digital Ltd, Glasgow, and Heriot-Watt University for developing a 3D COVID-19 swab for PCR tests.
LifeArc (CRUSH), Edinburgh, and University of Glasgow for creating a research centre for antiviral drug screening and resistance development.
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Glasgow Caledonian University for developing Time for You, a free, online mental health and wellbeing support service for frontline workers across Scotland during the pandemic.
Innovation of the Year
Celestia UK, Edinburgh, and Heriot-Watt University for developing eScan, with unique electronic scanning multi-beam antenna to simultaneously communicate data from hundreds of low-orbit satellites to ground stations. By solving bandwidth issues for the satellite communications market, the product offers huge potential for application in many areas e.g. 5G, remote rural broadband infrastructure and aircraft.
Loch Electronics Ltd, Glasgow, and Robert Gordon University for developing the world’s smallest domestic dishwasher and the first to both wash dishes and disinfect items such as mobile phones and facemasks with a UV light sanitisation, helping minimise the spread of COVID-19. The Capsule Dishwasher™ uses 10 times less water and consumes 4 times less energy, compared to hand washing.
Touch-less Hygiene UK Ltd, Coatbridge, and University of the West of Scotland for embedding microbiology expertise into the company to facilitate the design, development, testing and launch of the next generation of microbial disinfection and decontamination technology.
Innovator of the Future
Dr Daniel Melia Boix, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate from University of the West of Scotland, who collaborated with Helia Photonics, Livingston, to develop a high-precision robotic system to automate stacking ultrathin semiconductor bars into jigs for use in telecommunications, reducing losses due to product damage and increasing process throughput.
Juliette Farrell, KTP Associate from University of Strathclyde, who collaborated with Elite Contract Furniture, Glasgow, to embed new tools and methodologies into the business including rebranding and developing an e-commerce site for a new product, allowing them to sell online for the first time in 68 years.
Dr Simson McCreath, KTP Associate from University of Strathclyde, who collaborated with Terumo Aortic, Glasgow, to embed expertise and understanding of the properties and chemistry of gelatin, a critical raw material and component of medical devices made by the company.
Knowledge Exchange Champion
Professor Mirela Delibegovic, University of Aberdeen, is a world-leading scientist in diabetes and cardiovascular disease, evidenced by her top-ranking publications, extensive research portfolio, academic standing and international reputation. She is a champion of women scientists, an international keynote speaker and winner of public engagement awards.
Professor Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow, has shaped national and local government policy on literary tourism, and improved the way heritage and tourism sectors develop visitor experiences. His work on the economic impact of the poet Robert Burns secured two Scottish Parliament debates and persuaded the Scottish Government to commission his research report on the subject.
Professor Sean Smith, University of Edinburgh, has extensively contributed to knowledge exchange as an ambassador through his service to government, industry leadership groups (construction, forestry), public sector and housing boards, committees and education sector presenting to over 2,000 organisations.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes
The Business Engagement and Innovation Team, Edinburgh Napier University, worked strategically on the commercialisation portfolio and in just a short period of time, they collegiately rejuvenated old projects and inspired new initiatives. Through culture change, drive and leadership, the institutional collective commercialisation success has resulted in the best results over the last decade.
One Ocean Hub Early Career Researchers team of 42 international researchers led by University of Strathclyde, played a central role in influencing international and national action to improve the protection of the human rights of small-scale fishers in ocean-related decision making by working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Dr Marco Gilardi, University of the West of Scotland, researches software and design tools for interactive graphics and extended realities for training and education with an interest in multimodal interaction, producing 13 publications and a patent application. He led a highly successful project with The Scottish Crannog Centre, designing an innovative immersive gallery that exploits Augmented Reality technologies.
Making an Environmental Difference
Baxters Food Group, Fochabers, and University of the West of Scotland for embedding waste and process management knowledge and expertise, helping reduce their environmental footprint.
Kinnotech, Glenrothes, and Robert Gordon University for developing an energy efficient solar driven water pump.
NHS Highland and the University of the Highlands and Islands, with a cross-sector partnership for improving the quality of hospital wastewater discharged into the sewerage system and the environment.
Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS)
Alzheimer Scotland and University of the West of Scotland, for creating and delivering a new and transformative online workforce development course.
East Renfrew Breakfast Cart Project partners and Glasgow Caledonian University for designing new products, establishing new processes and models of provision to support children’s learning by ensuring that they are properly nourished at the start of the school day.
Glasgow Science Centre, Scottish Schools Education Research Centre and University of Edinburgh for improving the quality of science education for young, underserved children through interactive games, a new exhibition design framework and teacher training.
Multiparty Collaboration
The Centre for Excellence in Bioprocessing 2.0 partnership led by FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and the University of Edinburgh, with the University of Manchester, University of York and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre. The collaboration is addressing key challenges in bioprocessing and the manufacture of biologics with a wide-ranging programme of innovative research and training.
The Industrial Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research in Digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD) comprising 15 partners from across industry, NHS & four Scottish Universities. With twin tracks in radiology and pathology, iCAIRD’s programme of work is establishing the infrastructure & environment required to support development, validation & deployment of AI technologies for use in healthcare.
The Nano Safety Research Consortium with Heriot Watt University, academic and industrial partners in Scotland and Europe for addressing important gaps in knowledge about nanotechnology including safety testing, influencing the content of national regulations and promoting the responsible and sustainable development of nanotechnology to ensure that the benefits promised by this new technology can be realised safely.
#ScotKEAwards
Scotland’s tourism sector has had to be incredibly resilient in the past 18 months, and none more so than the Scottish Crannog Centre in Tayside.
Despite the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the visitor centre continued to attract people to its replica Crannog built on stilts on Loch Tay and iron-age village, but in the summer, disaster struck with a fire which destroyed the roundhouse.
However, as the saying goes, fortune favours the bold, and ambitious plans to relocate the entire visitor centre and build three new Crannog roundhouses was underway before the fire. Land had been secured, plans drawn up and crowdfunding campaigns launched with the goal to create an even better visitor experience showing the incredible life of the Crannog dwellers 2,500 years ago. Funding from the Scottish Government of £2.3m was announced in December, which will help secure the future of this unique tourist attraction.
Lorna Watson, Interface’s Business Engagement Executive for Tayside, has long been involved in supporting the Crannog Centre’s aims by finding academic expertise from various universities at different stages of its journey. Working closely with Centre Director Mike Benson, Lorna has been able to understand the issues, and find resources in Scotland’s world-class universities to help the Centre reach their goals.
An initial project with the University of the West of Scotland’s Dr Marco Gilardi, a Lecturer at the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, undertook a feasibility study and design of a new form of interactive, mixed reality, immersive experience to virtually link past dwellers from 2,500 years ago and present visitors. The project delivered the design of an innovative augmented space and the visitor interaction with it.
An additional strand resulting from the collaboration was the 3D production of part of a musical instrument, which helped bring the Crannog dwellers way of life alive for visitors.
Also, an Innovation Voucher-funded project scoped out visitors’ views of moving to a new site by showing them what was possible on a better location.
However, it was not only the Centre which benefited from the collaboration. It supported the University to establish an immersive research group, boosted the experience of academics collaborating with industry, and gave students valuable first-hand experience of working with a visitor attraction.
After the fire, a student project was established to review the original strategy for moving, taking account of economic factors, financial assumptions, and commercial opportunities.
Students from University of Stirling are carrying out a Facebook survey asking previous visitors what they liked about the Centre and what they would like to see at the new site.
Another project involves students investigating feasible sustainability features, from low carbon food footprint to clean energy, to add to the existing responsible tourism credentials.
Collaborating with the universities has helped the Centre gain the confidence to obtain resources needed to move to the new site more quickly.
Being at the forefront of innovation in immersive heritage experiences will attract larger visitor numbers and support the local economy. The Crannog Centre will be an important part of Scotland’s story linking the past to the present, and becoming a national treasure for future generations.
Photo shows Scottish Crannog Centre Director, Mike Benson, with the former Crannog.
Remember the pre-pandemic days when our city centres were a magnet for international tourists, shoppers, businesspeople, and day-trippers?
The pandemic has changed our town and city centres, perhaps forever, however there is a strong desire by our civic leaders, Scottish Government, neighbourhood groups and businesses to breathe new life into urban communities. Now is the perfect time to re-invent the high streets for all, with opportunities to think creatively about how spaces may be used.
University of Edinburgh researchers looking into the future of the high street recently launched a toolkit for creating more liveable and successful high streets.
The researchers said: “The high street is often the social and economic heart of a neighbourhood or community — and its health depends on creating and maintaining a place that is liveable, vibrant, successful, accessible and desirable as a destination and place to go to, move through or spend time — both as a public space place, and the activities and businesses that occupy its frontages and adjacent buildings.”
Partnering with academics can enable businesses and organisations to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our town centres. Interface has been matching businesses to academics for more than 16 years to help solve social and environmental problems in urban centres.
We can learn much from the tourism industry about harnessing technology and using creative thinking to develop new products and services. Breakthrough apps have been developed in response to COVID-19 which integrate train journeys with ordering food, find travel solutions in the Highlands and Islands and, of course, contactless payments have become the norm.
SENSECity founder Pooja Katara has cleverly incorporated augmented reality into an app for visitors to cities. Partnering with The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) through Interface, Pooja developed the app for walking tours which mean that more than 15,000 people have seen Glasgow through augmented reality. She continues to work with GSA in a collaboration with City Sightseeing bus tours in Glasgow to bring to life the stories of the people and places en route using AR technology, attracting people to sightseeing tours who may not normally use the service whilst promoting city centres and high streets.
Travel for people with disabilities to towns can be difficult, particularly connecting between public transport services. Academic input was invaluable for an ambitious project which brought together disabled people with transport staff to explore connections from rail stations to ferry terminals and co-design solutions. Much can be learned from projects like this to improve access for people with disabilities travelling into, and around, cities and towns.
Led by Go Upstream, a training and design programme for transport providers, and funded by Transport Scotland, the partners were introduced by Interface to OPENspace Research Centre, based in the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, which contributes evidence on why inclusive access to the outdoors matters.
A key benefit was the ability to use OPENspace’s monitoring and evaluation results informing the design of the project approach and tools.
There are many innovative ways in which academics and businesses/organisations collaborate to bring about change to our daily lives, wherever we live; cities, towns or country.
A new research project, ‘The Iolaire Impact’ is underway to explore how the story of the Iolaire tragedy is told and preserved for future generations at a new Iolaire centre in Stornoway.
The impacts of the tragedy on 1 January 1919 continue to unravel across the communities on the Isles of Lewis and Harris, and beyond. The Iolaire Centre Charity recognises that understanding these impacts and telling the story are foundation stones on which healing, cultural identity and confidence can be built.
The research is being led by the University of the Highlands and Islands and includes oral testimony and archival research from both local sources and internationally from the Scottish diaspora. The project has received funding through the Scottish Government’s innovation voucher scheme, administered by Interface, the businesses-academic matching service.
Lead academic Dr Iain Robertson, Reader in History at the university’s Centre for History said; “The outcome of the project will not only ensure that an Iolaire Centre accurately tells the story, but also shares how the event shaped the Islands socially, economically, and culturally in the generations since.”
University of the Highlands and Islands Visiting Professor and Senior Researcher on the project Professor Marjory Harper, said; “As an historian of emigration and the Scottish diaspora, I am particularly interested in how the tragedy of the Iolaire contributed to a significant increase in emigration from Lewis in the 1920s, and to the long-term legacy.”
Director and Trustee of the Iolaire Centre Charity and author of The Darkest Dawn, Malcolm Macdonald said; “It is still evident that there are many family stories which require further research before memories fade even further. Records from the time need to be extensively scrutinised.
“The centenary commemorations of 2019 testify that the feelings of the community are still mourning the enormous loss and what it meant to such a small community over the years. The impact of the disaster still casts a shadow on these islands. It is most important that everything pertaining to the Iolaire is recorded for posterity as it is a vitally important part of the islands’ history.”
Lorraine Thomson, Interface’s Highlands and Islands Manager, said “Interface, Scotland’s knowledge exchange broker for businesses and organisation, is delighted to have helped the Iolaire Centre at the outset to source academic expertise from the University of the Highlands and Islands. The work will be an important contribution to developing a world class visitor experience to commemorate the tragedy and its impact on the Islands.”
The Iolaire Centre is sponsored by Highlands and Islands Marine Equipment firm Gael Force Group and supported by HIE and Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar. Further information on how people can get involved and to stay up to date on progress of this exciting development can be found online: http://www.iolaire.org
Interface has announced that Dr Siobhán Jordan, Founding Director, is leaving the organisation to take up a new role in Ireland.
Since the inception of Interface almost 17 years ago, Siobhán has created and delivered the vision and strategy for the organisation that has led to both national and international acclaim. With almost 3,000 collaborative partnerships established between academia and businesses, communities and social innovators, the economic and societal impact of the impartial service can be demonstrated locally, regionally and globally.
Siobhán said: “It has been an immense privilege to lead the team at Interface over the years. I am so proud and humbled by the partnerships we have enabled across all industry sectors that make a real difference to people’s lives and company success. While there are still many and varied exciting challenges ahead, I feel the time is right to pass the baton to a successor.”
Prof Andrea Nolan, Chair of the Interface Strategic Board, said: “The work achieved by Interface under the inspiring leadership of Siobhán over the past sixteen years has made a tremendous impact on knowledge exchange in Scotland. The commitment, continuity and ambition she provided has established Interface as a highly valued and trusted partner in Scotland’s innovation ecosystem. The Board and I will continue to work closely with the team during this interim period to continue the exemplar work of Interface. We wish Siobhán all the very best in the future.”
Siobhán will remain in position at Interface until mid-February 2022 and the recruitment process for new Director has begun.
An award-winning scientist is among four new members of the Interface Strategic Board, who took up their new roles this month (November).
Dr Eve Bird is an internationally renowned industrial biotechnologist who heads up research and innovation at cleantech company Celtic Renewables.
The other new Board members are Dr Martin Hawley, Co-founder of Airspace Unlimited Scotland; Graham Watson, an experienced non-executive director and senior executive; and Louisa Macdonell, the former CEO of the Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), the membership body for community-led enterprising organisations.
Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said: “It is a great reflection on Interface that the positions attracted such high calibre applicants. The breadth of experience that our new members offer from a wide range of industries and the third sector will be a great asset to Interface as a whole – they all have great passion for innovation and collaboration between business and universities and colleges.”
Dr Martin Hawley is Co-founder of Airspace Unlimited Scotland, which was established to support the digital transformation of airspace management and aims to reduce fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. He has worked in both academic and industrial research, has been an aviation consultant for 25 years, and has established several companies.
Graham Watson is an experienced non-executive director and senior executive with a strong commercial track record. He has a mix of board responsibilities in Scotland, including Executive Chairman of Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, The Law Society of Scotland, the Court of Heriot-Watt University and Scottish Futures Trust. He is a former partner in a Big 4 accounting firm, with extensive experience of working with SME clients delivering business development, strategic planning programmes and leading change initiatives.
Louisa Macdonell is the former CEO of the Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), the membership body for community-led enterprising organisations. Louisa is also a member of the Board of Social Investment Scotland (SIS), the responsible finance provider and is an entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Edinburgh Business School and mentors a variety of small businesses, particularly those run by women.
Prior to joining DTAS, Louisa was Head of Economic Development at the Scotland Office, delivering Scotland’s first rural regional growth deal, and worked in energy strategy development at Scottish Enterprise.
Dr Eve Bird, Research and Innovation Director, Celtic Renewables, is an industrial biotechnologist who heads up research and innovation at Celtic Renewables. She has worked in the biobased chemicals industry for over a decade and is an international expert in the industrial acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation process, where her work ranges from genomes to bioreactors. Eve has risen to the top of her field and leads a highly skilled multi-disciplinary innovation team behind the world’s first ABE facility run on sustainable distillery by-products.
Photos shows clockwise from top left: Graham Watson, Louisa Macdonell, Eve Bird and Martin Hawley.
The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, now it its seventh year, launched today (28 October, 2021) to find and celebrate the exceptional work achieved through academic and business partnerships.
Hosted by Interface, the business-academic matchmaker in Scotland, the awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 17 March, 2022.
Applications are being invited in eight categories – from businesses, social enterprises, public sector organisations, third sector, universities, research institutes, innovation centres and colleges that, through knowledge exchange, are leading the way towards economic growth, societal improvements and environmental advances in Scotland and beyond.
Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council, said of last year’s event: “I was struck by the sheer variety of projects and collaborations celebrated through the awards. We clearly have a vibrant entrepreneurial community in Scotland and a lot of young companies building jobs and value for our communities.”
Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said: “We are excited to be hosting a top-class event – the only one of its kind in Scotland – to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of academics and organisations partnering through knowledge exchange.
“I would encourage every organisation – be they small or large – and academic institution that has enabled knowledge exchange to consider entering the awards – showcasing the many outcomes and impacts happening locally, regionally and globally.”
The categories are:
Innovation of the Year: This award is given for an innovative product, process or service that has been developed by a business, public sector organisation or third sector over the past five years in conjunction with a university, research institute or college partner.
Multiparty Collaboration: Open to groups of three or more parties working together on an innovative research project; the group must include research partners from Scottish academia and at least one business.
Knowledge Exchange Champion: Recognising an individual in academia (university, research institute or college), business, social enterprise or support organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to Knowledge Exchange.
Making a Social Difference: Celebrating collaborative projects which have achieved significant social impacts that contribute towards a better and fairer future; ultimately promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
Making an Environmental Difference: Celebrating collaborative projects which have achieved significant environmental impacts that ultimately contribute towards a better and more sustainable future; tackling climate change challenges as well as positively contributing to the Scottish Government’s Net Zero Carbon Emission objectives.
Innovator of the Future: Open to Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associates, Further Education and Higher Education students or Postgraduate Students (including those who have undertaken an Innovation Voucher Student Placement) who have been hosted or sponsored for a minimum of three months by a business, social enterprise or other organisation based in Scotland for a specific project.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes: Recognising an individual or team behind the scenes in an academic research & innovation or research enterprise office who has/have played a pivotal role in assisting knowledge exchange projects between organisations and academia.
COVID-19 Collaborative Response: This award is given for an innovative product, process, service or workforce practice that has been developed by a business, public sector organisation or third sector in response to COVID-19 in collaboration with a university, research institute or college partner.
Applications should demonstrate how the business-academic partnership has been fundamental in enabling the ongoing economic recovery or delivering support for the medical response.
The winners will be chosen by a specially selected judging panel who will be seeking collaborations which demonstrate innovation, impact (societal or economic) and transformation, along with recognising the people contributing to knowledge exchange.
Either academics or businesses can submit an application by the deadline of Friday, 14 January, 2022.
For further information on the awards or application forms please click here.
We are delighted to present the 2020-2021 Interface Annual Review in a new interactive format which showcases the outcomes and impacts from a very busy 12 months. We invite you to explore further by clicking on the links.
Please keep in touch with ideas, opportunities and challenges – we are here to help enable productive partnerships.
Photo by Alan Pratt, Interface.
What do community enterprises, social enterprises and third sector organisations have in common?
They can all benefit from tapping into the expertise within Scotland’s higher and further education to realise their ambitions.
Interface, who connects organisations into academic expertise, works closely with partners such as Firstport and Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS) to offer seamless, tailored support for high potential social enterprises and social innovation projects. But what exactly is social innovation and why does it matter?
According to Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good, “Social innovation is about developing new ideas to tackle social problems or meet social needs. It may be a new product, service, initiative, organisational model or approach to the delivery of public services.”
In their recently published strategy to 2030 Nesta pledge resource to address three defining societal challenges: give every child a fairer start, help people to live healthier lives; and build a more sustainable economy.
Social entrepreneurs, or organisations which exist for a social cause like Nesta’s priorities, often have great ideas to deliver more of the service or product they offer, but don’t always have the expertise in- house to research possible solutions. Collaborating with academics can open the door to fresh-thinking, turning wish-lists into reality, with potentially huge benefits to society.
Through the Firstport LaunchMe Accelerator, Interface have supported several organisations with such projects offering examples of what can be achieved through collaboration.
Woodside Arran Farm CIC, a community interest company based on the beautiful Isle of Arran, is a permaculture farm which recently completed a pilot to secure a unique contract with their local authority for procuring fresh produce for the island. This model offers a significant reduction in food travelling miles, plus an example of how regenerative horticulture methods can produce healthy organic food combined with increased carbon organic matter within the soil. The project aims to show how public bodies meal plans can deliver quality food sourced locally. By targeting schools and care homes, this ensures the most vulnerable people have access to nutritious food, reducing food insecurity.
Matched by Interface a collaborative project between the farm and the University of Stirling will evaluate data and learnings gathered from the past 18 months. The goal is to deliver a clear case to local authorities that this local sourcing model can provide the societal, economic and environmental benefits that are crucial in sustaining rural fragile economies as well as demonstrating an easily transferable model for other communities in Scotland.
Interface have also helped Falkirk based Sustainable Thinking Scotland CIC, an environmental social enterprise, in reaching their goals to develop methods of economically producing carbon-rich biochar from local wood waste. This new process avoids sending wood to landfill, significantly abates carbon, and the biochar (similar to charcoal), has desirable properties which help address several agricultural, ecological, and environmental issues. Interface connected the social enterprise to academic experts at the University of the Highlands and Islands to adapt their biochar production methods and bring the product to market.
Interface’s inclusive approach welcomes businesses and third sector organisations of all sizes and our place-based regional delivery across Scotland means that no one and nowhere is left behind when it comes to accessing innovation support and contributing to Nesta’s 2030 vision. Contact us if you’d like to find out more.