Making an impact: the 5th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards launch

A fountain of knowledge will be celebrated with the 5th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.

Applications are being sought from all Scottish universities, research institutes and colleges, as well as businesses and organisations, demonstrating research and development and innovation-led partnerships which have had a positive impact on the economy, society or the environment.

The annual awards are organised by Interface, which matches business to Scotland’s world-leading academics to develop and research new products, services and processes.

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“Collaborations between universities, colleges and businesses are a transformational force for the innovative economy we need to support Scotland’s future prosperity. The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards play an important role in showcasing this work and I’m very much looking forward to seeing this year’s finalists.”

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said:

“The awards are now a well-established way for both industry and academia to gain recognition for innovative, inspiring and impactful collaborative projects between businesses, organisations and academics. We would like to see entries from as many university and college partners as possible – Scotland’s academics and researchers undertake a tremendous amount of collaborative work with industry, and that sharing of knowledge can make a huge difference in getting a new idea to market, where it can make a significant difference to people’s lives.”

The categories are:

• Knowledge Exchange Champion of the Year: Recognising an individual in academia (university, college, research institute), business or support organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to Knowledge Exchange.
• Innovation of the Year Award: Awarded to an innovative product, process or service that has been developed during the past five years.
• Making a Difference Award: Celebrating collaborative projects which have achieved significant social or environmental impacts that ultimately contribute towards a better, fairer and more sustainable future.
• Multi-party Collaboration Award: Open to groups of three or more parties working together on an innovative research project; the group must include research partners from academia and at least one business. Applications should demonstrate innovation and impact as a result of working together to solve a common challenge while also having a significant benefit for each party involved.
• Innovator of the Future Award: ​Open to KTP Associates, Further Education and Higher Education students or Postgraduate Students who have been hosted or sponsored by a business based in Scotland for a minimum of three months for a specific project that has increased the skills of the individual student or associate as well as increased innovation within the company.​
• Spotlight Award: To recognise different business sectors and academic disciplines that have come together to provide an innovative solution to a challenge.

The winners will be chosen by a specially selected panel of judges who will be looking for collaborations which show 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 5pm on Friday, 29 November, 2019.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a special celebration of the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards on Thursday, 27 February, 2020.

For further information on the awards or application forms please click here.