Triple success for Heriot-Watt at Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2026

Heriot-Watt University has secured three accolades at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2026, recognising the university’s leadership in translating research into real-world impact through collaboration with industry and partners.

The awards, organised by Interface and held at the Macrobert Arts Centre at the University of Stirling, celebrated the partnerships between academia, business and the public sector that are driving innovation across Scotland.

This year’s success includes a standout win for Emma Perfect, Business Development Manager at Heriot-Watt, who was named Knowledge Exchange Hero. The university also received two highly commended recognitions, highlighting the breadth and strength of its knowledge exchange activity.

Emma Perfect recognised as Knowledge Exchange Hero

Emma Perfect was awarded Knowledge Exchange Hero (Individual) for her outstanding contribution to enabling collaboration between academia and industry.

With more than two decades of experience spanning industry and academia, Emma has played a central role in shaping how Heriot-Watt delivers knowledge exchange. Since 2022, she has supported over half of all Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and Interface projects at the University, representing a huge amount of value for academics, businesses and society.

With a strong focus on building trust, aligning motivations and creating accessible pathways for collaboration, Emma brings specialist experience in areas including life sciences and health and care technologies, among many others. Through mentoring colleagues, developing practical frameworks and championing a people-first approach, she has helped embed a culture where knowledge exchange is both inclusive and impactful.

Highly commended recognition for innovation and social impact

Heriot-Watt’s impact was further recognised with two highly commended awards.

Dr Ross Sanders, a KTP Associate working in partnership with Diageo and Heriot-Watt University, was highly commended in the Innovator of the Future category. His work is advancing grain-to-glass sustainability in Scotch whisky production, deepening scientific understanding of how flavour, aroma and colour compounds are developed during cask charring.

In the Making a Social Difference category, Heriot-Watt was highly commended for its partnership with Police Scotland on the Justisigns2 (J2) and SILENT HARM projects. Led by Professor Jemina Napier and co-designed with Deaf community members and representative organisations, the projects address inequalities faced by deaf women when reporting domestic abuse, demonstrating how collaborative research can deliver meaningful societal change.

Celebrating collaboration across Scotland

Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said:

“These awards reflect the strength of Heriot-Watt’s approach to knowledge exchange and innovation, where collaboration is not an add-on but central to how we deliver impact. Emma’s recognition as Knowledge Exchange Hero is richly deserved and speaks to the culture we are building across the University, one that enables people, partnerships and ideas to come together to solve real-world challenges. To also be recognised for innovation in whisky production and for our work addressing inequality through partnership with Police Scotland demonstrates the breadth of our activity and the difference it is making across sectors and communities.”

Speaking at the awards, Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, 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. This year’s winners show the breadth of that impact, from modernising traditional industries such as whisky making to using Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to improve patient experience and health outcomes.” 

The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards are now in their 11th year and continue to showcase the critical role that collaboration between academia and external partners plays in driving economic, environmental and social progress across Scotland.