Professor Martin Tangney, also the founder of spinout company Celtic Renewables, was honoured at the Causeway Business Exchange (formerly the Irish Business Network Scotland) annual awards at Glasgow City Chambers.
Causeway is an intergovernmental membership organisation which was set up to create innovation and business growth opportunities between Scotland and Ireland.
Joe McHugh, Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Culture in the Irish Government, presented Prof Tangney with the award at the gala event.
Prof Tangney said: “As an Irishman who has been privileged to develop so much of my career in Scotland, this is a particularly personal award and I am truly honoured to be granted this international recognition between our proud nations at such a wonderful event.”
Prof Tangney has been internationally recognised for his work in sustainable biofuel. In 2007 he established at Edinburgh Napier the UK’s first centre for the promotion of sustainable biofuel. In 2011 he founded the university spinout company Celtic Renewables, which has achieved international prominence for its process to convert unwanted residues of whisky production into advanced sustainable biofuel.
Keith Brown, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, said: “I would like to congratulate Causeway on its work to develop closer Scottish-Irish business to business links. Since its launch at Edinburgh Castle in 2016 as the Irish Business Network in Scotland, Causeway has played an active role in encouraging businesses to explore the opportunities that exist in both our markets.”
Minister McHugh added: “There are incredibly strong historic and modern links between Scotland and Ireland, and Causeway is helping to build on those ties to deliver real economic benefits for both countries.”
Earlier this year Prof Tangney was awarded an OBE for his services to engineering and energy industries.