A PEEBLES business has been shortlisted for an award recognising the success of collaborative work between businesses and academics.
Propeller Multimedia, one of the largest distributors and designers of speech and language therapy rehabilitation software in the UK, is in the running for the Sustained Partnership Award at this year’s Interface Excellence Awards.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh this evening (Thursday).
Since 2008 the firm has been working with academics at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh to develop and improve the clinical software packages available to its users.
Its collaborative work has resulted in an increased profile for Propeller Multimedia throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as a significant increase in sales and a number of student and graduate internship opportunities.
The teams are now working towards the development of new digital apps for those with speech and hearing difficulties which they hope to bring to market in 2014.
The apps will have worldwide reach through Apple and Android app stores.
Interface connects businesses across the world to Scotland’s higher education and research institutes.
Their free and impartial service aims to encourage innovation and help businesses solve challenges through academic support.
Dr Siobhán Jordan, director of Interface said: “These shortlisted entries recognise outstanding examples of knowledge exchange across Scotland.
“The Interface Excellence Awards will not only celebrate the success of existing Interface partnerships, but also encourage other businesses to tap into the wealth of benefits that partnership with Scotland’s world leading academic and research institutions can bring.”
Dean Turnbull, managing director of Propeller Multimedia, said: “Our five years of involvement with the university has given us clinical input and expertise which has helped us develop new products, test products and run workshops in the university.”
Mr Turnbull added that students had benefitted through gaining commercial knowledge and internships with the company.