Double award success for Heriot-Watt at Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards

Heriot-Watt University celebrated significant success at the prestigious 10th annual Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, securing top honours for its outstanding collaboration and innovation.

Now in its 10th anniversary year, these prestigious annual awards honour collaborations that generate tangible economic, environmental, and social value for Scotland.

Transforming Scotland’s medical device landscape

The Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC), a £6 million initiative led by Heriot-Watt, won the Multiparty Collaboration category. The MDMC was recognised for its transformative impact on Scotland's medical technology sector through collaboration with industry partners and academia, accelerating the development and commercialisation of innovative medical devices. Over 170 companies have benefited from MDMC support, successfully translating innovative concepts into market-ready products. This collaboration has already generated around £4 million in investment opportunities and created 42 new jobs within Scotland’s medical device sector.

Professor Marc Desmulliez, founder and manager of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre, said:

“Winning this award is a fantastic recognition of the hard work and dedication from everyone involved. The MDMC has become a vital asset for Scotland’s MedTech industry, creating solutions that not only advance healthcare technologies but also stimulate economic growth through collaboration.”

Driving innovation for sustainable seas

Spear-headed by The National Robotarium, innovative Underwater Intervention for Offshore Renewable Energies (UNITE) project was also highly commended in the same category. UNITE focuses on developing advanced robotic solutions and underwater technologies that improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency within the offshore renewable energy sector. The project's collaborative approach unites academic expertise with industry needs, significantly benefiting Scotland’s position as a leader in renewable energy.

Yvan Petillot, Professor of Robotics at Heriot Watt University and National Robotarium academic lead, commented:

“The National Robotarium’s partnership between Fugro and the UNITE project has created an exciting opportunity to develop this next generation of underwater technologies as well as the skills and expertise needed to support the transition to net zero. UNITE has enormous potential to power the UK’s offshore renewable sector and beyond, delivering worldwide economic and environmental impact that can benefit communities around the world.”

Adding to the evening’s achievements, Heriot-Watt was part of a team that claimed the Innovation of the Year award through the collaborative spin-out SolarSub Ltd. Working alongside partner universities, SolarSub Ltd has developed groundbreaking solar-powered autonomous underwater vehicles, significantly enhancing sustainable subsea operations. These innovative vehicles provide environmentally friendly solutions for extended underwater monitoring and exploration, supporting diverse industries from environmental research to offshore renewable energy.

Strengthening Scotland’s innovation landscape

The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards emphasise the vital role knowledge exchange plays in shaping industries, generating employment, and creating sustainable business opportunities throughout Scotland.

Reflecting on the evening, Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, added:

“These awards highlight the critical importance of knowledge exchange in driving forward Scotland’s innovation landscape. At Heriot-Watt, we are deeply committed to partnerships that deliver real-world impact, creating opportunities, jobs, and economic prosperity. I’m incredibly proud of our teams and partners whose collaborations continue to set new standards of excellence.”

Commenting on the event, Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“It was good to see the full breadth of academic and business-led innovation on show at Interface’s annual awards.

“Scotland has been at the forefront of many of the world’s most impactful innovations, from the MRI Scanner and penicillin to televisions and telephones. Yet, by combining research and business, so many new and exciting Scottish breakthroughs are just on the horizon and that is something we should all champion.”

About the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards and Interface

The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards are organised by Interface, a connector funded by the Scottish Funding Council and hosted by Edinburgh Innovations Ltd. The 2025 ceremony took place on 19 March at the Edinburgh Futures Institute and featured 32 finalists across 10 categories, with all shortlisted entries celebrated for their role in driving Scotland’s future prosperity. the full list of this year's winners is available on the Interface website.

Anyone wishing to collaborate with the National Robotarium and Heriot-Watt can get in touch via the university’s GRID (Global Research Innovation and Discovery) team at GRID@hw.ac.uk