Monday 23rd March 2026, 2:52pm
The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, organised by Interface, shine a spotlight on innovative partnerships and celebrate collaboration between business, academia, the public sector and the third sector. The awards recognise and reward exceptional collaborations that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland.
The 2026 ceremony was hosted at the Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling, on 19th March.
SeaWarm, a University of Edinburgh spinout (2021) and tenant company at Roslin Innovation Centre, is to be congratulated as joint winner in the 'Place-Based Impact' category, along with co-winner The Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine (University of Glasgow).
This award was sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and recognises collaborative initiatives that bring together partners from across Scotland to deliver targeted, positive outcomes for specific regions or local communities.
SeaWarm brings together University of Edinburgh, Growforth Ltd, Port Edgar Marina, Museum of Lead Mining, and Lar Housing Trust to deliver innovative modular water-source heating at local scale, capturing renewable heat from natural water bodies.
These real-world demonstration projects are proving the viability and scalability of water source heat pump technology.
SeaWarm offers an affordable, low-carbon alternative for homes, businesses and community sites, particularly in Scotland’s rural and coastal regions, while building the evidence, partnerships and capacity needed for large-scale deployment and future international expansion.
SeaWarm’s work focuses on unlocking renewable heat from natural water sources—helping businesses and communities reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and future-proof their heating systems.
By working closely with site owners, engineers, and local stakeholders, SeaWarm is helping to accelerate the transition to sustainable heat in locations where conventional solutions are often challenging.
"We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our partners, collaborators, and early adopters who have helped bring SeaWarm’s vision to life.
"We look forward to continuing our work supporting rural and coastal businesses and communities to tackle the climate emergency using their local water resources."
SeaWarm"Many congratulations to all winners in the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
"SeaWarm is part of our innovation ecosystem and winning this award highlights the strength of collaborative innovation to deliver real impact for local communities and tackle climate challenges."
Val Hughes-White, Roslin Innovation Centre Director”What stood out this year was the strength of collaboration across sectors. We’re seeing businesses, public bodies and third sector organisations working with colleges, research institutions and universities in ways that are delivering real impact for Scotland, from tackling net zero challenges to improving health and well-being. That’s exactly what these awards are here to recognise.”
Now in its 11th year, the 2026 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards brought together a rich ecosystem of researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, support organisations and policymakers for a night of recognition, networking and shared ambition.
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
