Knowledge Exchange Hero win for St Andrews-led Alliance

The Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods (SRAEHL) team won the Knowledge Exchange Hero Award at a ceremony held in Stirling on March 19.

The 11^th annual Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, organised by innovation support organisation Interface, brought together a rich ecosystem of researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, support organisations and policymakers in celebration of the power of partnership.

The Knowledge Exchange Hero Award celebrates the individuals and teams who have played pivotal roles in supporting knowledge exchange activities. The Alliance was recognized for their work fostering cross-sector collaborations to drive research that delivers tangible social impact. 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, transforming knowledge exchange into action and measurable outcomes.

The Alliance was established in October 2023 and is funded by the Scottish Funding Council. As a cross-sector collaborative research Alliance, they support Scotland’s ambitious climate goals, declared in May 2019, to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with interim targets including a 75% reduction by 2030. It is led by Professor Mette High, director of the Centre for Energy Ethics.

The University’s Vice-Principal for Research, Professor Tom Brown, said: “I’d like to congratulate the SRAEHL team for this fantastic achievement – it is great to see their work recognised. The winning of this award shows how research from across Scotland can make a real difference to peoples’ lives and help to build a sustainable future for us all.”

Speaking of the win, SHRAEL’s Director Professor Mette High, said: “To win the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Hero (team) Award is such an honour – I couldn’t believe it! From the very start, the Alliance has been an ambitious project anchored in an ethos of cross-sector collaboration. The leadership team involves University of Strathclyde, Stirling, Edinburgh and St Andrews. Together, we connect researchers from every university across Scotland, sparking collaborations with industry, business, charities, community organisations, and local authorities. To turn the aspiration of collaboration into reality takes a lot of hard work, and I am so grateful to the team for making this so much fun!

“It was an amazing evening, celebrating the impressive achievements across the sector. Scotland is a powerhouse for knowledge exchange – we are really good at breaking down silos and working with partners not only within but also beyond academia.”

The evening highlighted the wider impacts of knowledge exchange. The keynote address from Dr Nicky Reid, Chief Executive of the SPFL Trust and Honorary Doctorate of the University of Stirling, brought a powerful perspective on social impact and inclusion. Her contribution underscored the values at the heart of this year’s Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards and the difference that collaboration can make across communities.

Helen Cross, Director of Investment and Research at the Scottish Funding Council, said: “These awards shine a light on the impressive collaborations that power Scotland’s innovation ecosystem and today’s winners show just how transformative those partnerships can be. Bringing together the strength of Scotland’s academic base and combining that knowledge with the expertise of Scottish industry is hugely important in innovating for the future.”

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, added: “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.”

A full list of all winners can be found on the Interface website.