One of the outcomes of a successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and SP Energy Networks was winning the top prize of E&T Innovation of the Year at the IET Innovation Awards. 

The prestigious award was given for the partnership’s development of a “Network Constraints Early Warning System” (NCEWS), which generates algorithms to extract information about missing cable assets and voltage excursions. The platform uses huge quantities of data from smart meters to train deep learning algorithms (which extract useful information as data is processed through multiple layers) to predict missing cable assets and voltage excursions across a network”, according to the IET news story announcing the winners. 

Jim Berryman, Knowledge Transfer Adviser at the KTN – one of the delivery partners for the KTP programme – was delighted that this ground-breaking technology has not only delivered significant benefits to the partners involved, but that it has been recognised in such a competitive and prestigious field. He commented “KTPs are all about innovation through partnership and it is always very gratifying to see the positive impacts they generate for all involved – to win an award like is a further reflection of just how transformative these collaborations can be”.

Find out more about the IET Awards and this winning project here.

Applications for KTP funding are open throughout the year and the next deadline is 11 December 2019.