Bringing together industrial intelligence software, energy management expertise and academic research to support smarter, lower-carbon infrastructure systems
Edinburgh (UK), June 23, 2026 - AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, and Heriot-Watt University have announced a new collaboration to explore how digital technologies can accelerate the development of smarter, lower-carbon infrastructure systems across energy and transport. The collaboration follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Heriot-Watt University and Schneider Electric UK, acting on behalf of AVEVA Solutions Limited, in early June.
The agreement will see the organisations focus on opportunities across digital energy systems, smart infrastructure, digital twins, transport decarbonisation and sustainable campus operations. It will also support engagement between industry and academia, including potential student projects, internships, research activity and future funding opportunities.
The collaboration will draw on Heriot-Watt’s expertise through its Global Research Institute iNetZ+, including work linked to digital energy systems and transport decarbonisation, alongside Schneider Electric’s energy management and automation capabilities and AVEVA’s industrial software and digital twin expertise.
The deployment will include digital twin-based optimisation, data-driven decarbonisation, and smart energy and transport solutions, supported by simulation tools and industrial automation technologies for research and demonstration environments.
The partnership builds on existing areas of collaboration between Heriot-Watt and AVEVA, including research into how digital twin technologies can support real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, forecasting and operational optimisation for electrolysis systems. This comes as policymakers and industry look to flexible electrolyser operations to support renewable energy integration and the development of low-carbon hydrogen.
Lisa Wee, CSO at AVEVA, said: “Achieving net zero across energy, industry and transport will depend on closer collaboration between policymakers, academia and industry. By harnessing the power of industrial intelligence, and using simulation and digital twins to model organisations with complex systems, leaders can equip their teams to make better decisions and accelerate practical decarbonisation. Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to connect policy ambition, academic research and industrial expertise to support the development of smarter, more sustainable infrastructure.”
David Pownall, VP, Power Systems UK&I at Schneider Electric, said: “The transition to cleaner energy systems requires infrastructure that is not only more sustainable, but also more flexible, efficient and resilient. Combining Schneider Electric’s technological expertise in energy management and automation with AVEVA’s industrial software capabilities and Heriot-Watt’s research strengths creates a strong foundation. It enables the exploration of practical solutions to optimise energy use across complex environments – from campuses to transport and industrial systems.”
Professor Gabriela Medero, Associate Principal for Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Heriot-Watt has a long-standing commitment to working with industry to turn research into practical solutions for society. Through iNetZ+ and our wider work in energy and transport decarbonisation, we are focused on helping partners understand and address the complex infrastructure challenges involved in the net zero transition.”
The MoU provides a framework for the three organisations to identify priority areas for collaboration and develop future initiatives across research, innovation, skills and applied technology.
Photo caption:
David Pownall, VP, Power Systems UK&I at Schneider Electric, and Professor Gabriela Medero, Associate Principal for Enterprise, Heriot-Watt University, sign the MoU at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus on Tuesday 2 June.
AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, sparking ingenuity to drive responsible use of the world’s resources. Over 90% of leading industrial enterprises rely on AVEVA to help them deliver life’s essentials: safe, reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting people with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA helps them engineer capital projects more efficiently, operate better and create sustainable value, from the plant to the cloud and beyond. Through our industrial intelligence platform, CONNECT, and our trusted and secure information management applications enriched with industrial AI, AVEVA empowers businesses to drive deeper collaboration between teams and to accelerate insight across their ecosystem of suppliers, partners and customers.
Named as one of the world’s most innovative companies, AVEVA's open solutions draw on the expertise of more than 6,500 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers. The company, which has operations around the globe, is headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Learn more at www.aveva.com.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalising industries, businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centres, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, Al-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory.
With 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world's most sustainable companies.
www.se.com
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a global research-led university based in the UK, with five campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia.
More than 25,000 students from 154 countries are currently studying with us. We have more than 173,000 alumni in 190 countries.
We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social, sports, environmental and life sciences subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.
Heriot-Watt was founded in Edinburgh in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics institute. In 1966, it became a university by Royal Charter. The university is named after 18th century Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt and 16th century Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot.
86.8% of Heriot-Watt's research is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 – the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers.
The university runs 113 undergraduate programmes and 170 postgraduate programmes across six academic schools and Edinburgh Business School.
Our six academic schools are:
Website: https://www.hw.ac.uk/
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