The University of Strathclyde has secured four wins in the Knowledge Exchange Awards, for its partnerships with business and industry.
The awards ceremony, held at the University of Stirling, celebrated the strength of collaborations and highlighted the wider impacts of knowledge exchange.
Strathclyde shared the Innovation of the Year award with inspections and testing company Inspectahire, for a project with Dr Dayi Zhang (Electronic & Electrical Engineering) which developed a portable ultrasonic measurement device that accurately determines whisky levels inside sealed casks, without moving or opening them. Using advanced ultrasound, it boosts safety, efficiency, and sustainability across distilleries, showcasing the power of knowledge exchange in advancing Scotland’s industry.
The Making an Environmental Difference award went to Strathclyde and Ureaka, a prospective spinout company from the University which is developing a circular, cement-free process that permanently mineralises captured CO2 into construction materials. Through joint research, the partnership has demonstrated early carbon storing prototypes and paved the way for a fully circular CO2 utilisation loop, with significant potential to decarbonise precast concrete manufacturing. The company is being established by Phil Salter (Civil & Environmental Engineering), with Dr Vassilis Inglezakis (Chemical & Process Engineering).
Professor Zoe Shipton (Civil & Environmental Engineering) is a partner in the The Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods, which won in the Knowledge Exchange Heroes Team category. Through events, seed-funded projects and policy engagement, the Alliance unites Scotland's universities with industry, business, government, charities, and local communities to co-create solutions for Scotland’s net zero future.
The Multiparty Collaboration award was won by PROMPT, which is developing the first system for objectively monitoring pilots’ mental workload during flight operations, achieving 95% accuracy even under extreme conditions. This breakthrough enables proactive safety intervention that could save hundreds of lives annually, revolutionising aviation safety. Niall McGuire, a Research Assistant in Strathclyde’s NeuraSearch laboratory, is a partner in this project, with BAE Systems and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
Another partnership involving Strathclyde using airborne private 5G networks for live broadcasts, Conquering the Air(waves), was Highly Commended in Multiparty Collaboration.
Other Strathclyde shortlistings were: Sentinel (Innovation of the Year and Research and Innovation in Digital Health and Social Care); Dr Alison Kirk and Dr Nicola Cogan (Knowledge Exchange Champion); Sarah Buchanan (Knowledge Exchange Heroes) and a collaboration with Montrose Port Authority (Making an Environmental Difference).
Talent and skill
Strathclyde’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen McArthur, said: “I am very proud of the University’s success in these national awards. They illustrate the talent and skill we have in abundance at Strathclyde, the strength of our industrial partnerships and our focus on delivering impact.
The winning projects demonstrate the value our innovations deliver for business, sustainability, and health and wellbeing. They further our ambition to use our expertise and research to create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous society for all.
The awards, organised by innovation support company Interface, bring Strathclyde’s total number of successes in the competition to 11 in the past five years.
Interface Director Amelia Whitelaw said: “These awards highlight the impact that collaboration between business, the third sector, the public sector and academia can have in driving innovation and delivering real benefits for society.”
Knowledge Exchange activity at Strathclyde receives extensive support from Strathclyde Inspire, the University’s flagship entrepreneurship programme which offers entrepreneurial training and opportunities to all students, staff members and alumni. The Inspectahire project was also supported by the Strathclyde-hosted West of Scotland KTP Centre.