The University of Strathclyde has three finalists – including two in the same category – in the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2022.
The nominations have been made in the Knowledge Exchange Heroes and Innovator of the Future categories of the awards, which show the strength of partnership between businesses, organisations and academics in Scotland.
The awards are organised by Interface, which matches businesses with academics to develop and research new products, services and processes.
One Ocean Hub, a Strathclyde-led international team of 42 researchers, is a finalist in the Knowledge Exchange Heroes category. It has been shortlisted for its 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.
Strathclyde KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) Associate Juliette Farrell, of the University’s Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management, has been nominated in the Innovator of the Future category. The shortlisting is for her work with Elite Contract Furniture to embed new tools and methodologies into the business, including rebranding and developing an e-commerce site for a new product; these measures have enabled the company to sell online for the first time.
Dr Simson McCreath, a KTP Associate in Strathclyde’s Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, is also shortlisted for Innovator of the Future. With the support of departmental colleagues, notably Dr Christine Davidson and Professor John Liggat, he collaborated with manufacturing company Terumo Aortic 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.
The winners will be announced in an online ceremony on Thursday 17 March.
Dr Alasdair Cameron, Director of the Strathclyde-hosted West of Scotland KTP Centre, said: “Strathclyde has a long and successful history in using KTP to collaborate with business and industry. Their knowledge and skills translate into success for businesses, while the experiences gained through KTP inform their research and teaching.
“Strathclyde’s excellent track record in the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards is a great endorsement of the mutual value KTPs can bring.”
Strathclyde has had extensive success in the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards in recent years. In 2021, Professor Malcolm Macdonald, Chair of Applied Space Technology, was named Knowledge Exchange Champion, while the University was part of an innovative project to develop a pill for early diagnosis of bowel cancer symptoms which won the Multiparty Collaboration award.
In 2020, the Breaking Barriers initiative, which helps young people with a learning disability gain university qualifications and work experience, was named winner in the awards’ Spotlight category. In 2018, a project with Norscot Joinery, which developed virtual reality showhome software for use by the construction industry, was named Innovation of the Year.