Glasgow Caledonian researcher wins national innovation honour
A Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) researcher has won a major national innovation prize at the 2026 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
Dr Firdous Ul Nazir received the Innovator of the Future Award at the awards ceremony organised by Interface and held at the Macrobert Arts Centre on March 19.
The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards celebrate partnerships between academia and external organisations that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland.
Dr Ul Nazir was recognised for leading an innovative partnership between GCU and TNEI Services Ltd.
Together, they’ve created a new planning and simulation tool that helps engineers better design local electricity networks, especially as things become less predictable with the rise of renewable energy and more electric vehicles. Rather than relying on fixed assumptions, the tool allows engineers to test a wide range of “what if” scenarios, helping them understand risks and plan for different possible outcomes.
The tool is already being used within the industry and is set to be built into TNEI’s IPSA software − a widely used platform that allows engineers to model and test how electricity networks will perform. This means it can slot directly into the systems engineers already rely on, helping them make better, more informed decisions.
In doing so, it strengthens TNEI’s market offering while supporting the UK’s move towards a smarter, more reliable energy system.
The honour builds on Dr Ul Nazir’s recent recognition as Academic of the Year at the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards for the same project.
He said: “I am delighted to receive the Innovator of the Future Award. This project highlights the value of collaboration between academia and industry in developing practical solutions for the challenges facing modern electricity networks.”
GCU was also shortlisted in the Trailblazing AI Collaboration category through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with John G Russell (Transport) Ltd, led by Dr Dimitrios Liarokapis.
The collaboration developed a data- and AI-driven supply chain intelligence system delivering real-time operational insights across logistics networks and helping reduce carbon emissions through improved route and resource optimisation.
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.”