Knowledge Exchange Awards Open

We’re excited to announce that nominations for the 2026 Knowledge Exchange Awards are officially open! If you’re part of a project that has turned research expertise into real-world benefit, now is your chance to put it forward and be recognised.

The Knowledge Exchange Awards champion the remarkable collaborations between University of Exeter researchers and a wide range of partners – including businesses, public bodies, and communities – that have delivered impact far beyond academia. These awards celebrate the powerful two-way exchange of ideas, evidence, experiences, and skills that leads to tangible, positive change in society, the environment, and the economy.

Whether your work is helping to solve pressing societal challenges, creating commercial opportunities, or strengthening community resilience, there’s a place for it in this year’s awards.

Eight Award Categories

Projects can be nominated across seven distinct categories, each recognising different facets of collaboration and impact:

• Sustainable Futures Award – recognising excellence in sustainability, environment and life sciences.
• Health, Life Sciences and Wellbeing Award – for collaborations improving physical or mental wellbeing.
• Fair, Just and Inclusive Society Award – celebrating work towards equity and inclusion.
• Commercialisation Project of the Year – for research that has been translated into practical applications like spinouts, or licensing.
• Community Impact Award – for a research or knowledge exchange project which worked with a community or non-profit partner and made a positive difference to people’s lives.
• Bright Future Award: Student Innovation – recognising outstanding student-led real-world contributions.
• Bright Future Award: Early Career Research Impact – for early-career researchers whose work is making a real difference.
• Knowledge Exchange Solution of the Year – for outstanding knowledge exchange solutions benefiting partners, communities, and industry.

You can explore the breadth and ambition of previous entries by viewing the winners and shortlisted projects from the 2024 Knowledge Exchange Awards here.

Judging and What Happens Next

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of internal and external judges with expertise across sectors. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony at the Great Hall on 15 October 2026, where we’ll come together to celebrate achievement and share learning.

Want to get more involved in knowledge exchange?

If you’re an academic looking to explore knowledge exchange more broadly – whether or not you’re planning to submit an award nomination – the Ideas Hub is a great place to start. It brings together practical tools, guidance, and opportunities to help you connect your research with partners beyond the University, including businesses, industry, government, charities, and NGOs. Designed to support academics at all career stages, the Ideas Hub helps turn research expertise into activity and impact outside academia.

Don’t miss your opportunity to spotlight the transformative power of your work, submit your nomination online before 8 April 2026.