Applications are now open for the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2027, Scotland’s flagship celebration of business–academic collaboration, inviting applications from businesses, organisations, and academics throughout Scotland.
The annual awards, organised by Interface, celebrate the people and collaborations turning ideas into innovations and opportunities into impact.
Free to enter with 12 categories, the award recognises innovation, impact and partnership, including the award category Responsible AI Collaboration developed in partnership with The Data Lab.
Winning a Scottish Knowledge Exchange Award highlights the power of collaboration, demonstrates real impact, and raises the profile of those driving innovation across business, academia, and their partners.
The 12 categories now open for applications are:
- Digital Health & Care Innovation – in partnership with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre
- Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Marks & Clerk
- Innovator of the Future – sponsored by Business Gateway
- Inward Investment Impact
- Knowledge Exchange Champion
- Knowledge Exchange Heroes – team and individual awards
- Making an Environmental Difference
- Making a Social Difference
- Multiparty Collaboration
- Place-based Impact – sponsored by Highlands & Islands Enterprise
- Powerful Partnership
- Responsible AI Collaboration – in partnership with The Data Lab
Showcasing the breadth of knowledge exchange activity
Dr Dayi Zhang was in the winning team, which scooped the 2026 Innovation of the Year Award, with Inspectahire Instrument Co. Ltd and the University of Strathclyde.
“Winning the award meant a great deal to me personally because it recognised not just the research, but the years of collaboration, problem-solving and persistence behind the project. It has helped bring much wider attention to our work, opened up new conversations with industry and academic partners, and has given us real momentum to explore further funding and new applications for the technology.”
Dr Dayi Zhang, winner of the 2026 Innovation of the Year Award
Dayi also took home Innovator of the Future in 2025, demonstrating how the Awards can play an important part in career progression, skills development and showcasing the breadth of knowledge exchange activity taking place in Scotland.
“It is time to recognise the people and collaborative projects making an impact on our lives and the planet. We invite entries from bold and creative collaborations, partnerships and teams of all sizes, and from individuals whose work is driving significant progress and positive change, often beyond the spotlight.
Laura Goodfellow, Director of Interface
“Dayi, with the University of Strathclyde and Inspectahire Instrument Co. Ltd, are a great example of winners who have really engaged with the Awards and thought about which category to enter at different stages of their collaboration – they impressed both judging panels with the impact they have made during the development of an advanced ultrasound device for the whisky industry.”
Applying for the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards
The awards are free to enter, and the application deadline is 5pm on Thursday, the 10th of December 2026. The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards ceremony will take place on the 24th of March 2027 at The Barony Hall, hosted by the University of Strathclyde.
Interface is also holding an online Q&A session on Tuesday, the 27th of October at 12.30pm to walk through the categories, eligibility criteria and answer your questions.
Register for the Q&A: The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2027 Q&A
Access the entry toolkit and application forms below: