KE Awards 2025
The KE Awards celebrate the people, partnerships and creativity that underpin the UK’s knowledge exchange (KE) activity. Telling the stories of innovation and impact is crucially important for the sector and our celebration of outstanding performance offers huge potential to share and apply learning in new areas. As ever, we continue to review KE award categories to reflect priority areas for KE, to engage new audiences, and to extend the profile and understanding of knowledge exchange activities by a broader range of stakeholders.
Join us on Thursday 27 November at The Lowry, Salford, for the 2025 KE Awards Ceremony, where we will reveal the highly anticipated winners in each award category.
Categories
The KE Awards provide recognition nationally, and beyond, for the exceptional work that is taking place across the sector. Winning, or being shortlisted for an award, can enhance your reputation and that of your team and your institution.
The awards can increase the visibility of your work, help secure new business and also be used by your institution as future case studies.
Project Awards
People Awards
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Awards Archive
Over the years, the KE Awards (formerly known as the IMPACT Awards) have recognised outstanding achievements and innovative contributions across a variety of fields. This archive is a testament to the incredible talent, dedication, and impact demonstrated by all our winners.
Every entry we have received reflects a commitment to excellence, but here we honour those who stood out, celebrating their exceptional efforts that have shaped and inspired their communities and industries. Explore the legacy of past winners who have set the benchmark for success and innovation.
Previous Winners
Congratulations to Our Winners and Finalists
- Place-Based Initiative: HyDEX – kickstarting the Midlands’ hydrogen economy | Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) – based at the University of Nottingham
- Strategic Partnership: Shaping Landscapes for People and Nature to Thrive: A Strategic Partnership | University of Exeter and the National Trust
- Commercialisation Initiative: Entropyst | University of Strathclyde
- Impact-led Initiative: Advancing Health Together: The SHARE Collaborative’s inclusive response to the mpox outbreak | Queen Mary University of London
- Advancing KE Culture: Improving KE culture through a programme of professional development | University of the Arts London
- KE Team: The UK Knowledge Exchange Hub for Mathematical Sciences | National distributed organisation, presently hosted virtually by Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge
- Sector Collaboration: NW CyberCom: Accelerating Cyber Security Sector Innovation Through University Collaboration | Lancaster University, University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, University of Lancashire, Lead Plexal, and CRSI
- Public Vote: The Science Behind a Happy Horse: A strategic partnership for equine welfare & educational equality | Nottingham Trent University and The British Horse Society
Thank You to Our Supporters and Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to:
- UK Research and Innovation, our overarching supporter
- Anchored In, our headline sponsor
- Category sponsors: Withers & Rogers, Beauhurst, Oxentia, TenU
On Thursday, 21st November 2024, Bristol hosted the much-anticipated KE Awards 2024, a night dedicated to honouring excellence and innovation across the Knowledge Exchange sector. The event brought together professionals, organisations, and projects that exemplify the power of collaboration and the impact of knowledge exchange on society.
Ahead of each winner announcement, we shared powerful video stories of the shortlisted projects, which showcased the innovation, passion, and impact behind their achievements. These moments highlighted the extraordinary breadth of talent within our community. You can view the videos here.
Congratulations to Our Winners and Finalists
We extend our warmest congratulations to all the shortlisted nominees, whose projects exemplify excellence and commitment to advancing knowledge exchange. A special congratulations to this year’s winners, who have set a remarkable standard for the sector:
- Place-based KE initiative of the Year: Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and York Universities | Northern Accelerator – Collaborating for social, environmental and economic impact in the North East and North Yorkshire
- Sustainability Collaboration of the Year: Cranfield University | The Green Future Investments Ltd (GFIL) Funds at Cranfield University
- Outstanding KE Strategic Partnership: University of Dundee | Art at the Start – Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Infants and Caregivers
- Commercialisation Achievement of the Year: University of Oxford | Oxford University Innovation, Oxford R21/Matrix-M™
- Transformative Social Venture of the Year: University of Strathclyde | C2LI
- Innovation in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through Knowledge Exchange: Queen Mary University of London | The Verbatim Formula “Creative Care”
- KE Team of the Year: National Physical Laboratory | Technology Transfer at NPL: 3-year transformation
- KE Professional of the Year: University of Salford | Dr Adnan Bayyat, Knowledge Exchange Fellow
- Highly Commended Entry: Imperial College Advanced Hackspace | White City Hackstarter
Thank You to Our Supporters and Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to:
- UK Research and Innovation, our overarching supporter
- Anchored In, our headline sponsor
- Category sponsors: EAUC, Withers & Rogers, Oxentia, TenU and the Economic and Social Research Council
Reflections on the Night
Stuart Wilkinson, CEO at PraxisAuril (Knowledge Exchange UK) remarked:
“The KE awards last night showcased an amazingly diverse array of knowledge exchange projects and people who have and are continuing to make a real impact economically and in society, all from a wide range of organisations and their KE partners. It truly was an inspiring snapshot of what is happening across the UK, as research and education organisations come together with partners of all kinds to collaborate and make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Ananay Aguilar, Head of TenU, added:
“Celebrating the commercialisation of academic research is key to demonstrating the value of university spinouts to the UK’s bottom line. TenU exists to further this agenda, so we must recognise and support those who have the drive and determination to take their ideas to market – creating jobs, attracting investment to the UK and ultimately addressing global, critical issues as part of the journey.”
Dr. Helen Henderson, Partner and Patent Attorney at Withers & Rogers, reflected:
“Withers & Rogers continues to support the KE Awards as we are passionate about knowledge exchange and supporting the development of research commercialisation. More than ever, the strategic importance of intellectual property is being recognised, as are the opportunities available through collaborative partnerships.”
The KE Awards 2023 ceremony took place on the 23rd of November in Leeds where PraxisAuril welcomed a community of knowledge exchange professionals to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to advancing collaborative knowledge and innovation.
Our panel of judges were, once again, very impressed by the quality and diversity of entries across eight award categories, with 27 professionals and collaborative initiatives shortlisted as finalists for the event.
We are delighted to announce that the winners of the PraxisAuril KE Awards 2023 were:
- Place-based KE Initiative of the Year: University of Birmingham Enterprise Ltd with ‘Unit 9 – A Medical Incubator Meeting the Incubation Needs of Pre-Revenue Companies’
- Commercialisation Achievement of the Year: University of Dundee, Amphista Therapeutics Ltd
- KE Strategic Partnership: The Alan Turing Institute, ‘Turing-Roche Strategic Partnership for Personalised Medicine’.
- KE Team of the Year: Northumbria University, ‘Intellectual Property Commercialisation Team’
- Academic Entrepreneur: Professor Damion Corrigan, University of Strathclyde
- KE Professional of the Year: Laura Forester-Green for ‘Establishing the KTP Office at the University of Huddersfield’
- Award for Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through Knowledge Exchange: University of Central Lancashire Initiative: ‘A Creative Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Framework for Students at UCLan’ & University of Hull Initiative: ‘Homelands: Engaging with Migrant Communities to Challenge Perceptions of Africa in the UK’
- Net Zero Collaboration of the Year: Lancaster University Initiative: ‘Centre for Global Eco-Innovation: Co-developing Net Zero Solutions at Scale’ & Manchester Metropolitan University Initiative: ‘ECO-I North-West’
Amidst the celebration of exceptional achievements in Knowledge Exchange at the KE Awards 2023, there was a surprise moment where Iain Thomas, PraxisAuril’s chair, presented the Lifetime Achievement in Knowledge Exchange award to David Secher, PraxisAuril’s patron and co-founder, highlighting Secher’s achievements and commitment to advancing knowledge exchange.
UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) was the lead supporter of the KE Awards 2023, recognising the importance of knowledge exchange and their role in supporting KE people and projects. Emma Lindsell, Executive Director of Strategy, Performance and Engagement at UKRI, said:
“This year’s finalists exemplify the UK’s strengths and world-class expertise in delivering sustainable innovation, impactful collaborations between academia and industry and pioneering approaches to address major societal challenges. These themes resonate deeply with UKRI’s commitment to fostering a culture where knowledge exchange is not just an activity, but a cornerstone for driving real-world impact.”
We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our category sponsors EAUC, TenU, and Withers & Rogers, whose contribution really reinforces the importance of collaboration within the sector. Simply, the event would not have been as special without their support.
David Russell, CEO at PraxisAuril said:
“Knowledge Exchange is – quite simply – the future. The winners of these national awards are pioneers of excellence and thoroughly deserve to have their achievements recognised, celebrated and amplified on a national stage. That is exactly what the PraxisAuril KE Awards do. I congratulate all the finalists and winners on their outstanding achievements.”
he PraxisAuril KE Awards celebrate the people who help to initiate and deliver impact and outcomes from publicly funded research through a diverse range of partners and activities. This celebration of knowledge exchange remains more relevant than ever as universities and research organisations continue to respond to the long term effects of COVID-19 as well as the escalating cost of living. This has demonstrated the value of long-term investment in the research base and also in knowledge exchange.
We are thrilled that The PraxisAuril KE Awards were once again supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and were in collaboration with Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), the TenU, the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and SETsquared to increase support and publicity for the important and impactful achievements of the KE profession.
PLACE-BASED KE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
This award recognises the success of a place-based KE initiative which demonstrates the value and impact that collaborative KE activity can have on a local ecosystem.
Edinburgh Napier University: KE in Vietnam and Beyond, Improving health outcomes for neonates
Edinburgh Napier, Scotland’s only university to produce graduates in the four fields of nursing (adult, child health, learning disabilities and mental health) and midwifery, developed a bespoke neonatal nurse education programme now being delivered at one of Vietnam’s largest hospitals and beyond. The impact of this work and the power of the partnership led to further courses being delivered, consultancy and research. Most importantly it has led to a 42.2% reduction in infant mortality; demonstrating the power of Knowledge Exchange across international lines.
COMMERCIAL DEAL OF THE YEAR
This award recognises a KE team (or KE professional) for delivery of outstanding impact through a particular deal (licensing, spinout, royalty etc.).
University of Birmingham Enterprise: University of Birmingham/ Innova Medical Group, Rapid testing platform technology
A unique testing method invented at the University of Birmingham (UK) is set for a global rollout after its commercial rights were exclusively licensed to the world’s largest COVID-19 test provider, Innova Medical Group, Inc. Known as the Reverse Transcription-Free (RTF) platform technology, the Birmingham team demonstrated that detection of COVID-19 was achieved in as little as 10 minutes when coupled to exponential isothermal amplification methodologies (EXPAR). The speed of the test is based, in part, on its avoidance of slower, reverse transcriptase-based technologies. The ease of use and speed of lateral flow tests with the sensitivity of PCR testing means that the test could be deployed at entertainment venues, airport arrival terminals, and in remote settings where clinical testing laboratories are not available. Crucially, it can be used with testing techniques which bypass the need for laboratory equipment, and this is expected to reduce delays in waiting for test results, which currently require samples to be sent to specialist laboratories. The technology can be quickly adapted for use in non-hospital settings with multiple pathogens, extending its potential utility beyond COVID-19 and into other disease areas. IMG is aiming to accelerate RTF-EXPAR’s global rollout for widespread use by 2023.
ACADEMIC ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Academic entrepreneurship provides a conduit for enterprising researchers to bring their discoveries to market. This award recognises those outstanding individuals who have worked with their KE office to translate their research to solve real world problems.
University of Liverpool: Professor Kate Black
Professor Kate Black is one of the University of Liverpool’s most successful academic founder-entrepreneurs. In 2019 she co-founded University of Liverpool spinout Meta Additive to commercialise a novel chemical approach to 3D printing that can manipulate materials on a molecular level, providing smarter, cheaper and more sustainable manufacturing solutions. Meta Additive was acquired by Desktop Metal, resulting in $4.7M income for the University of Liverpool. Professor Black continues to work collaboratively with other companies including AWE and Ceres Energy, and translates her research work to solve important challenges including the design and production of World Health Organisation approved visors used as part of personal protective equipment by local NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. She works closely with the University of Liverpool’s IP Commercialisation team, who supported her through the spinout process. Professor Black shares her experiences of a successful commercialisation journey with the research community, helping to guide and inspire researchers and future spinout founders.
INVESTOR PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR
This award recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to KE through their investment activities.
Oxford University Innovation Ltd: Jim Wilkinson, Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE)
Jim Wilkinson is CFO of Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), the University of Oxford’s preferred investment partner. OSE has raised $1 billion to invest in Oxford companies, transforming world-leading science into world-changing businesses. As a key figure at OSE, Jim invests in relationships to make the partnership successful and enables operations to run as smoothly as possible. The partnership with Oxford University Innovation (OUI) has enabled OSE to build a portfolio of 80+ spinout companies in Life Sciences, Health Tech and Deep Tech. Since 2015 they have invested $500M in the portfolio, progressing 21 ventures to series B and beyond, including 2 IPOs and 6 trade sales, and have worked to build capacity for further future growth.
NET ZERO PROJECT OF THE YEAR
The UK has committed to an ambitious Net Zero target by 2050. This Award recognises collaborative KE projects that contribute to tackling climate change challenges taking us towards a better and more sustainable future.
University of Salford: Energy House 2.0
At a cost of £16m, the Energy House 2.0 laboratory has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Office for Students. Commissioned in in February 2022, Energy House 2.0 is the largest research and test facility of its type. Incorporated in the facility are two environmental chambers each able to accommodate two detached houses and recreate a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures between -20˚C to +40˚C together with wind, rain, snow and solar radiation. This unique facility will play a key role in accelerating UK progress towards low carbon and net zero housing design. The ERDF contribution has also enabled a major knowledge transfer and business engagement programme with local businesse, who have been provided with technical support and access to the Energy House 2.0 to further their development of innovative low carbon products. To date the project has engaged with over 150 businesses. In November 2022 the next phase of the project, which had been supported by Barratt Developments, Bellway Homes, and Saint-Gobain, will see the completion of two houses inside the environmental chambers. These houses will act as test beds for local businesses developing the next generation of low carbon products.
KE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR
This award recognises the success of an external partnership which demonstrates the value of collaboration.
Northumbria University & Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust: Principles and Practice of Restorative Just Culture
Together, Northumbria University and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are pioneering professional development courses on Restorative Just Learning Culture and developing and embedding new learning into organisational practice. Their four-day credit bearing course teaches the theory behind Restorative Just Learning Culture and its application in complex organisations. Any professionals and practitioners involved in the management and welfare of a range of stakeholders in any industry will benefit from it. A 2019 NHS Patient Safety Strategy highlighted the cost to patient safety resulting from healthcare teams that do not feel supported to carry out patient care, estimating 11,000 lives go unsaved, a further £1 billion is spent on treatment following unnecessary incidents, whilst bullying and harassment costs £2 billion per annum. Northumbria University and Mersey Care’s Principles and Practice of Restorative Just Culture course and Partnership teaches learners and equips organisations with strategies to manage these issues in a restorative way that minimises the negative impacts, maximises learning and develops an organisational culture where people feel safe. Such has been the success of the course that the UK’s ZeroSuicide Alliance is utilising it to help facilitate the work they are doing to prevent suicide in the UK and beyond.
The 2021 KE Award Winners were announced at a dedicated, digital ceremony on the 18th of November 2021, hosted by PraxisAuril and sponsors UK Research and Innovation. Each category was presented by one of our volunteer judging panel. Congratulations to the following awards winners:
KE Partnership of the Year – Presented by David Secher; PraxisAuril Founder & Patron
SUNRISE – Swansea University
Academic Engagement of the Year – Presented by Gurmit Kler; University of Birmingham, Director of Business Engagement
Turing Data Study Group – The Alan Turing Institute
KE Deal of the Year – Presented by David Bembo; Cardiff University, Director, Research and Innovation Services
Apollo Therapeutics: Attracting major investment to empower a uique, multi-university portfolio-based biopharmaceuticals venture – UCL Business on behalf of Imperial College London and University of Cambridge
KE Team of the Year – Presented by Simon Bond; SETsquared Partnership, Innovation Director
Virtual Forum for Knowledge Exchange in the Mathematical Sciences – KTN / ICMS / INI / Newton Gateway
Place-Based Initiative of the Year – Preseted by Fariba Soetan; The National Centre for Universities and Business, Policy Lead, Research and Innovation
Space Park Leicester – University of Leicester
Pandemic Pivot of the Year – Presented by Alex Chaix, UK Research and Innovation, Head of Commercialisation
Testing Times at University of Exeter – University of Exeter
Sponsoring the KE Awards offers more than just increased recognition and visibility within the Knowledge Exchange sector and the opportunity to network. It also allows you to bolster your credibility by showcasing your commitment to the sector.
We are keen to partner with organisations that are looking forward to supporting the Knowledge Exchange community, creating a lasting impact, and inspiring the next generation of breakthroughs.
Contact us to learn more about how you can become a sponsor and be part of this prestigious event.
2025 Supporters & Sponsors
Headline Sponsor: Anchored In
Advancing KE Culture Sponsor: Oxentia
FAQs
The KE Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to knowledge exchange across the UK. They highlight impactful collaborations between universities, research organisations, industry, and society, with a focus on professional services teams and individuals.
The awards are organised by Knowledge Exchange UK, the UK’s professional association for Knowledge Exchange practitioners, with support from sponsors and sector partners.
No – entries are accepted from members and non-members.
No, entries are welcomed from the UK, Republic of Ireland and international institutions.
No, entry to The KE Awards is free.
Any individual or team involved in Knowledge Exchange activities in the UK, including those based in higher education institutions, research institutes, industry, and the public or third sectors.
Yes, self-nominations are welcome and encouraged.
No, there is no institutional cap. However, each submission must be distinct and tailored to the specific award category.
No, each project can only be submitted to one award category. If you are unsure which category is the best fit, please contact us at awards@ke.org.uk and we will be happy to advise.
Project Awards: All project awards are assessed by the KE Awards judging panel against five overarching criteria, which should be clearly evidenced within your submission:
- Potential for economic impact
- Potential for societal impact
- Potential for environmental impact
- Equality, inclusion, and diversity
- Alignment with UK government missions
People Awards: People awards are assessed against the following criteria, which should be demonstrated in your submission:
- Acting ethically and with transparency
- Commitment to continuous improvement
- Recognition and reward of contributions
- Building capacity within the Knowledge Exchange community
Yes, detailed criteria are available on the awards website https://ke.org.uk/award/ke-awards/#categories-tab
The easiest way to view the questions is to start filling in the form. It saves your progress automatically and shows word counts for each section. You can move back and forth between questions to make changes. If you do not yet have final answers, you can enter placeholder text (e.g. “text” or a space) to continue through the form. Once started, you will receive a link to return to your submission at any time.
All nominations must be submitted through the online platform. Links and instructions are provided on the Knowledge Exchange UK website.
18th August 2025 by 17h00.
You can save your progress and return to complete your nomination before final submission. However, once your submission is finalised and submitted, no further changes can be made.
No. Please complete the nomination form provided on the website—no additional documents, attachments or hyperlinks will be accepted.
The panel includes experienced professionals from across the Knowledge Exchange ecosystem. For the full list of committee members, please visit the Judging Panel tab on our website: https://ke.org.uk/award/ke-awards/
We aim to provide brief feedback to shortlisted nominees. Due to the volume of entries, feedback on non-shortlisted submissions may not be possible.
At Knowledge Exchange UK, we aim to recognise individuals, teams, and functions that are often overlooked elsewhere in the sector.
A KE office is the unit (which may be just one person) responsible for leading and delivering KE activity. This could be a dedicated technology transfer office or a team within a broader Research and Innovation Office.
A KE practitioner might be a member of professional services staff working in such a unit or an academic engaged in KE activity. For award categories, more than one type of practitioner may be involved. For example, a professional services staff member working with researchers or someone in a hybrid role. For the ‘Team’ category, a mix of staff types is eligible, as long as the team’s focus is on KE rather than pure research.
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 27th November 2025 at The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ.
No, attendance is not mandatory to receive an award, but it is strongly encouraged. Finalists will be notified in advance and invited to attend. Please note that all attendees, including finalists, are required to purchase their own tickets.
Smart/dress to impress.
Yes. Attendance at the awards ceremony is ticketed:
- Half-table (5 delegates): £450.00
- Single ticket: £100.00
Absolutely! We welcome sponsorship enquiries. If you are interested in sponsoring an award or the event, please contact us at sponsorship@ke.org.uk for more information.
Please email awards@ke.org.uk with any queries. We are happy to assist.
2025 Finalists
Click the links below to watch short videos that highlight each project.
Place-Based Initiative – Sponsored by Anchored In
- Spirits of the Black Meridian | University of Greenwich
- HyDEX – kickstarting the Midlands’ hydrogen economy | Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) – based at the University of Nottingham
- Academic-Industry Partnership Programme | University of South Wales
- Flourish and Moving Ahead programmes enhanced by Keele in Town hub | Keele University
Strategic Partnership – Sponsored by Withers & Rogers
- Shaping Landscapes for People and Nature to Thrive: A Strategic Partnership | University of Exeter and the National Trust
- Forging the Future: A Strategic Partnership Powering Fusion Innovation and Skills | Swansea University
- University & Pilkington: Top of the Glass – Science, Skills and Sustainability | University of Liverpool
Commercialisation Initiative – Sponsored by Beauhurst
- Fraiya: AI tool for pregnancy ultrasound to improve detection | King’s College London
- Entropyst | University of Strathclyde
- Quantum Base, a scalable anti-counterfeiting solution | Lancaster University
Impact-led Initiative
- Bridging the gap between Academia and Industry in Nigeria | Lancaster University
- Transition Living Lab25’ | University of the Arts London, London College of Communications
- Advancing Health Together: The SHARE Collaborative’s inclusive response to the mpox outbreak | Queen Mary University of London
Advancing KE Culture – Sponsored by Oxentia
- Transforming the culture of Corporate Partnerships at an Institutional level | University of Exeter
- Improving KE culture through a programme of professional development | University of the Arts London
- Research to Reward (RtoR) | University of Bristol
KE Team
- The UK Knowledge Exchange Hub for Mathematical Sciences | National distributed organisation, presently hosted virtually by Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge
- AIM: Co_LAB | National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, University of Strathclyde
- Structurally Unsound: Exploring inequalities to better inform UK policy | University College London (UCL)
Sector Collaboration – Sponsored by TenU
- VentureVersity – collaborating to accelerate university enterprise | University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Loughborough University, Leicester Start Ups CiC, Asking Better Questions Ltd, Denis Oakley & Co, and Ethical Business Exchange
- NW CyberCom: Accelerating Cyber Security Sector Innovation Through University Collaboration | Lancaster University, University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, University of Lancashire, Lead Plexal, and CRSI
- ImpactU: A collective of UK universities growing mission-driven businesses in their ecosystems | Oxford University Innovation (host institution), The London School of Economics and Political Science (co-host institution), University of Northampton, Cambridge Enterprise and The University of York.
Public Vote
- UK-SEA Vax Hub: Strengthening Regional Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness in Southeast Asia | Led by University of Sheffield
- The Science Behind a Happy Horse: A strategic partnership for equine welfare & educational equality | Nottingham Trent University and The British Horse Society
- Research For Everyone: Adopting an inclusive research culture at the University of Glasgow | University of Glasgow
- Open Societal Challenges – Challenge Us! | The Open University
- Space4All | King’s College London and Aerobility