Glasgow has always been a city of invention. From James Watt’s steam engine to Clyde-built ships that sailed the globe, the city’s industrial legacy reshaped the modern world. Today, as part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations, that same spirit is driving a new era of sustainable mobility and net-zero innovation.
A Year-Long Celebration of Innovation
This year, we launched a campaign showcasing how Glasgow’s past industries paved the way for today’s world-leading sectors. Our next focus? Clean, smart, and sustainable transport—a sector redefining how we move people, goods, and ideas in a net-zero economy.
🎟️ Join the conversation at our Art of Possible session on 14th October at Glasgow Science Centre. Click here to register for free today.
A Legacy of Transport Innovation
Glasgow’s engineering brilliance once powered the Industrial Revolution. Today, that same ingenuity is driving the transition to clean, high-tech mobility. Glasgow-based Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS), led by founder Abdul Waheed, is developing the UK’s first hydrogen-electric HGV, offering a zero-emission solution to one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise—road freight. Combining range, refuelling speed, and cutting-edge design, HVS is proof that Scotland’s innovation ecosystem can lead the global shift to green logistics.
On the railways, Dr Mahmoud Wagih of the University of Glasgow and RX Watt Ltd. is pioneering battery-free rail sensors and wireless technologies that cut maintenance costs, emissions, and waste—demonstrating how smarter infrastructure can power sustainability without compromise.
Meanwhile, Dr Marco Fossati from the University of Strathclyde is helping redefine flight itself. Through Project CAELUS, his team is developing Scotland’s first national medical drone network, delivering vital NHS supplies more efficiently and sustainably. His research also advances low-emission aircraft technologies—bridging aerospace innovation with public good.
And on the Clyde, the city’s maritime legacy continues to sail into the future. Smart Green Shipping (SGS), represented by Samira Nadkarni, is revolutionising the shipping industry with its FastRig—a fully recyclable, retractable rigid wing sail that cuts vessel emissions by up to 40%. Combining Scottish manufacturing with smart data-driven software, SGS is redefining what’s possible in green maritime transport.
Guiding Glasgow’s Green Future
At the heart of Glasgow’s transformation lies vision and leadership. Dr Duncan Booker, Group Manager for Green Economy, Innovation & International at Glasgow City Council, has been instrumental in driving the city’s climate and innovation strategies—from the Climate Emergency Strategy to Sustainable Glasgow and COP26 engagement. His work bridges policy, technology, and community action—ensuring the city’s transition to net zero is both inclusive and ambitious.
Join the Conversation at Art of Possible
Join us for a special edition of our award-winning Art of Possible panel discussion series, on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at Glasgow Science Centre. We will bring together experts to explore how sustainable transport, green energy, and cross-sector collaboration are reshaping industries and driving inclusive economic growth.
Why Glasgow? Why Now?
Glasgow has earned a global reputation for climate action and innovation. From hosting COP26 to introducing Scotland’s first low-emission zone, the city is delivering bold change. With over 12,000 renewable energy sites, and £1.5bn of low-carbon investment forecast in the next decade, Glasgow is turning climate challenges into opportunities—driving a net-zero, inclusive, and prosperous future.
Full Speaker Biographies
🍃 Dr. Duncan Booker – Group Manager (Green Economy, Innovation & International) at Glasgow City Council
Dr. Duncan Booker is Group Manager for Green Economy, Innovation & International at Glasgow City Council, with extensive experience in sustainable transport, climate strategy and urban innovation. Duncan has shaped city-wide sustainability initiatives, including Glasgow’s Climate Emergency Strategy, and led Glasgow’s stakeholder engagement during COP26, highlighting the city’s global leadership in sustainable urban solutions.
Duncan previously managed Sustainable Glasgow, a multi-sector partnership driving green infrastructure, clean energy, and smarter transport innovation. He has championed digital twin projects, autonomous logistics, and climate justice initiatives, connecting policy, technology, and community perspectives to accelerate Glasgow’s net-zero agenda.
With over 20 years of experience in policy development across transport, environment, public health, and economic resilience, Duncan combines technical expertise with strategic oversight. Duncan holds degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Glasgow, and was instrumental in Glasgow joining the Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities initiative, connecting the city to international best practices in resilience to physical, social, and economic shocks and stresses.
🚅 Dr. Mahmoud Wagih – University of Glasgow & Founder at RX Watt Ltd
Dr. Mahmoud Wagih is an award-winning electronics engineer and Reader at the University of Glasgow, specialising in sustainable, wireless technologies for smart infrastructure and transport systems. He leads the Green RF-Enabled Electronics Lab, developing battery-free sensors and wireless power solutions that reduce environmental impact and enable smarter, more connected networks.
As founder of RX Watt Ltd, a University of Glasgow spin-out, Dr. Wagih has developed innovative technology such as battery-free rail sensors, helping to improve safety, monitoring, and efficiency in transport, and supporting a shift toward net-zero mobility. His work also extends to healthcare logistics, powering smart devices for remote monitoring and demonstrating the versatility of sustainable, wireless technologies.
Dr. Wagih’s pioneering work has earned him the Sir George Macfarlane Medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering, recognition on Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science & Healthcare (2024), and more than 20 additional awards for excellence in sustainable electronics and engineering research.
🚛 Abdul Waheed – Founder & CEO, Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS)
Abdul Waheed is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and innovator, specialising in hydrogen-powered transport and AI-enabled solutions. He founded HVS in 2017, pioneering zero-emission hydrogen commercial vehicles and leading the company’s mission to decarbonise one of the heaviest-polluting sectors—road freight—using green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources.
Under Abdul’s leadership, HVS has developed a ground-up hydrogen-electric HGV technology demonstrator, featuring class-leading capabilities and a radical cab design. The vehicles offer a range of 370–600 km (230–370 miles) and can be refuelled in just 15–20 minutes, combining efficiency with practical use for haulage. HVS aims to become the first UK company to deliver viable long-range hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles at scale, positioning itself at the forefront of the country’s green transport revolution.
Abdul’s leadership and innovation have earned HVS multiple awards, including the E-mobility Innovation Award (Best Fuel Cell EV) and the Sustainability Partnerships’ Transport Award, recognising the company’s transformative contribution to zero-emission transport.
🛩️ Dr. Marco Fossati, Reader in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Dr Marco Fossati is Reader in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he directs the Future Air-Space Transportation Technologies (FASTT) Lab within the Aerospace Centre of Excellence. His pioneering research spans aerospace innovation, sustainable aviation, and the use of drone technology in healthcare logistics.
He led the expert team for Project CAELUS, developing Scotland’s first national medical drone network and advanced simulators for healthcare delivery, positioning Scotland at the forefront of medical drone logistics. Beyond healthcare, his research addresses major global challenges including space debris re-entry, low-emission aircraft technologies, and computational fluid dynamics for planetary entry systems.
Dr Fossati’s contributions have been recognised internationally, including a Best Paper Award in Innovation in Smart Cities and Systems, highlighting his impact in bridging aerospace technologies with smarter, more sustainable transport solutions.
🛥️ Samira Nadkarni, Head of Communications at Smart Green Shipping (SGS)
Samira Nadkarni is Head of Communications at Smart Green Shipping (SGS), a Govan-based company pioneering the transition to cleaner commercial shipping through advanced wind propulsion technologies. With over a decade of experience in maritime, offshore, and renewables communications, and a background as a maritime journalist, Samira has long championed innovation, sustainability, and seafarer safety across global industries.
At SGS, she leads communications for a women-led company driving the green transition of the shipping sector. SGS’s flagship technology, the FastRig—a fully recyclable, retractable rigid wing sail manufactured in Scotland—can reduce vessel emissions by up to 40% annually. Alongside this, its FastRoute optimisation software uses data-driven insights to chart the most efficient wind routes, cutting both emissions and operating costs.
Through her work, Samira plays a key role in amplifying SGS’s mission to combine Scottish engineering excellence with environmental leadership, positioning Glasgow and Scotland at the forefront of global maritime innovation.
Join us on Tuesday 14th October 2025, from 2–5 PM at Glasgow Science Centre, for this special Art of Possible event.
Hear from the pioneers shaping Glasgow’s sustainable transport future, connect with innovators driving the net-zero transition, and be part of the city’s next chapter in invention.
🎟️ Register free today and join Glasgow’s #InnovationJourney.