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Scotland's Top Innovator |
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Media information - For
immediate release 30/9/04
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Over twenty years of
research and innovation, which has led to the creation in Scotland
of a world record-breaking technology – an ultra-miniature
television-quality display built on a silicon chip, is to be recognised by
the presentation of the Nation’s top award for innovation.
Dr Ian Underwood, FRSE has been announced the winner of the Gannochy Trust Innovation
Award of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for 2004A in recognition of the contribution he has made
throughout his career to the development of highly innovative
optoelectrical and display devices here in Scotland.
The coveted title, which also carries a cheque for fifty thousand
pounds and a specially-commissioned gold medal, will be bestowed upon Dr
Underwood by the President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Lord
Sutherland of Houndwood, at a prestigious awards ceremony to be held at
The Royal Museum of Scotland on 1 October 2004.
Following an open competition run by The Royal Society of
Edinburgh, the Winner was selected by a distinguished judging panel,
Chaired by Lord Ross, and including: Sir Bruce Pattullo, Professor Andy
Walker, Dr Ian Sword and Dr Russell Leather.
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The
Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of
the Royal Society of Edinburgh has been created to encourage and
reward
Scotland
’s young innovators for work which benefits
Scotland
’s wellbeing. The
technology Dr Underwood has been developing since the early eighties has
helped to generate high-quality jobs and contributed to wealth
generation in
Scotland
. His work has centred
around two distinct technologies – Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS)
from the mid 1980s until the late 1990s and, since then, Light Emitting
Polymer on Silicon (LEPoS). LEPoS
actually emits light and does not require sunlight or a lamp to
illuminate it. As a direct
result of the LCoS innovations introduced by The University of Edinburgh
and collaborators, Micropix Technologies Ltd (which became CRL Opto in
2001) was formed in 1998 with headquarters in
Dalgety
Bay
,
Fife
. By 2000 the firm employed
more than 40 full time staff – around half in
Fife
and the others in Middlesex.
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In
1999, as a further direct result of the innovation, Dr Underwood
co-founded MicroEmissive Displays (MED) Ltd. with former RSE Enterprise
Fellow, Dr Jeff Wright. MED
designs and produces ultra-miniature television-quality screens based on
light emitting polymers (LEP) for use in consumer electronic products
such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras and personal
viewers for mobile devices. As
MED’s screens typically uses at least 70 per cent less power than
commonly used LCD microdisplay modules, it is anticipated that this
development will lead to smaller, lighter cameras with longer battery
life. MED’s technology can
also produce a highly magnified viewable virtual image in space, as is the case in electronic viewfinders of
the type found in camcorders or digital cameras and in wearable or
headset displays. There is
also potential for this advanced technology to be a market enabler for
hands-free and wearable headset displays that will allow users
hands-free access to information, infotainment and entertainment on the
move, probably in conjunction with a mobile phone or other wireless
devices. Personal wearable
displays are likely to have application in fields including medical,
professional, security and industrial environments.
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Since
its creation, MED has raised approximately £13 million in Venture
Capital from Scottish,
UK
and European funds. On 20
September the company announced its intention to float on the
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
MED says its market capitalisation is expected to be around £35.5
million. It has attracted
highly qualified, skilled and experienced research and engineering staff
from all over Europe to relocate to
Scotland
. MED currently employs 35
full time staff, approximately half of whom are qualified to doctoral
level.
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Dr
Underwood has played a leading or significant role in many world firsts:
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| World Firsts in LCoS (
University
of
Edinburgh
& collaborating companies or institutions)
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| 1987
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World
1st Static RAM based LCoS spatial light modulator – “16X16”
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| 1990
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World
1st Ferroelectric LCoS SLM – “HPSLM”
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| 1991
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World
1st demo of grey scale on ferroelectric LCoS display by field
sequential method
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| 1992
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World
leading Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process for surface
flatness of LCoS devices
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| 1994
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World
1st demo of full colour on ferroelectric LCoS display by the field
sequential method
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| 1995
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World
1st SRAM based ferroelectric LCoS spatial light modulator,
“256X256”
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| 1997
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World
leading light-blocking strategy for LCoS devices.
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| 1997
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World
leading XGA ferroelectric LCoS microdisplay – “SLIMDIS”
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| 1999
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World
leading SIFT process for superior surface flatness of LCoS
microdisplays,
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| 2000
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World
1st LCoS microdisplay using anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal –
“MINDIS”
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| World Firsts in LEPoS (MicroEmissive
Displays Ltd)
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| 2000
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EZ-Mellor
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World
1st Demonstration of colour LEPoS device
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| 2001
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ME1602
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World’s
smallest color TV screen [1]
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ME1602
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World
1st Demonstration of colour active matrix LEPoS microdisplay
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ME3201
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World
1st Display with built in in-pixel frame store
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| 2003
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ME3203
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World
1st Commercially available colour LEPoS microdisplay
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ME3203
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World
1st Colour display with built-in frame-store,
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ME3203
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World’s
lowest-power-consumption TV-quality display
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Reacting to the
announcement, Dr Underwood said:
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I am delighted to be the recipient of this prestigious award for
innovation. It’s an exciting time for MicroEmissive Displays (MED) Ltd.
We currently employ 35 full time staff in Scotland and are exporting
products designed and made here to customers in Asia. There is potential
for our technology to be a market-enabler for hands-free and wearable
headset displays that will allow users hands-free access to information,
infotainment and entertainment, on the move. By 2008, the market for
Consumer Personal Viewers is estimated to be one billion dollars. Winning
this award will enable me to undertake an in depth market study to see how
we can best advance our innovations.
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RSE
President, Lord Sutherland of Houndwood said:
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Dr Ian Underwood is a very worthy winner of the Gannochy Trust Innovation
Award of The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Over a period of some twenty
years he has made an outstanding contribution to his field. He has
combined vision with technical expertise and demonstrated an admirable
adaptability to develop ideas by fulfilling different roles. He and his
collaborators have created highly skilled new jobs and are contributing to
wealth generation in Scotland. I am grateful to Lord Ross who has Chaired
the distinguished selection panel and to its judges: Sir Bruce Pattullo,
Professor Andy Walker, Dr Ian Sword and Chairman of Trustees of The
Gannochy Trust, Dr Russell Leather. I wish Dr Underwood every continued
success.
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The
Gannochy Trust’s Chairman, Russell Leather said:
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The Trustees of the Gannochy Trust are delighted with the very high
standard of work submitted for this important award. We share the view of
the RSE that it is of great importance for our Nation’s future that we
encourage younger people to pursue careers in fields of research which
promote Scotland’s inventiveness internationally. Our joint award
recognises outstanding individual achievement which contributes to the
common good of Scotland. The experience of being a judge for this event
has been inspiring. The winning Innovator, Dr Underwood has every reason
to be proud of attaining an outstanding level of achievement.
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Notes for Editors:
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A. |
About The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh |
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The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh is Scotland’s highest accolade for individual
achievement in innovation and has been being created to encourage
and reward Scotland’s young innovators for work which benefits
Scotland’s wellbeing. The Award was presented for the first time
in 2003 to Dr Barbara Spruce, Department of Surgery and Molecular
Oncology, University of Dundee, for her innovative technology for
the treatment of cancer. The award is presented annually to a young
innovator whose work has the potential to promote social and
economic well-being. Established in partnership between The Gannochy
Trust and The Royal Society of Edinburgh, the purpose of the new
award is to encourage younger people to pursue careers in fields of
research which promote Scotland’s inventiveness internationally,
and to recognise outstanding individual achievement which
contributes to the common good of Scotland. The prestigious award
also seeks to promote Scotland’s research and development
capability in new technologies and areas of social importance. |
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Targeted at a new generation of Scottish
innovator, any individual aged 45 or under working in Scotland is
eligible to compete for the award. Competition entries from fields
of research and development which have demonstrable potential to
benefit Scotland’s social or economic wellbeing, have been sought.
Funded by The Gannochy Trust, the Award is administered by The Royal
Society of Edinburgh. |
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B. |
Biographical Information on Dr Ian Underwood, FRSE |
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Degrees |
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B.Sc. (Hons.) Natural Philosophy, University of Glasgow,
1976-1980 |
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M.Sc. Bioengineering, University of Strathclyde, 1982-1983 |
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Ph.D. Applied Optics, University of Edinburgh, 1983-1987 |
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Appointments |
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Ferranti Ltd, Edinburgh, Design engineer 1980 - 82, |
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University of Edinburgh, Department of Psychology, Research
assistant, 1986 - 87, |
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University of Edinburgh, Department of Physics, Research fellow,
1987 - 89 |
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University of Edinburgh, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Lecturer, 1989 - present, |
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- Lecturer, 1989-1996 |
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- Senior Lecturer 1996-2000 |
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- Reader 2000- |
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- Secondment to MicroEmissive Displays (MED) 2000 |
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- Leave of absence with MED 2002 - present |
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MicroEmissive Displays Ltd. Co-founder and various roles
including: |
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- Joint Chief Executive (2000 – 2002) |
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- Product Development Director (2002 – 2003) |
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- Director of Strategic Marketing (2003 – present) |
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Personal Awards, Fellowships, Honours etc |
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Dewar Studentship, University of Edinburgh, 1986-7 |
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Fulbright Fellowship, 1991-2. Held at the University of Colorado
at Boulder. |
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Photonics Circle of Excellence Award 1994 (Consultant designer of
award winning product). |
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British Telecom Research Fellowship, 1997. Held at BT Labs,
Martlesham. |
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Ben Sturgeon Award, UK Chapter of Society for Information
Display, 2000. |
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Best paper award, UK Chapter of Society for Information Display,
2002. |
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Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, Scotland,
2003. |
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Elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2004. |
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Corporate awards (MED) |
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Scottish Enterprise SMART Award, 1999. |
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Tornado 100 Award, Tornado Insider Magazine, 2002 |
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Tornado 100 Award, Tornado Insider Magazine, 2003 |
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Scottish Executive SPUR PLUS Award, 2003. |
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Guinness Book of World Records, "World’s smallest colour
tv screen", 2004 |
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Research Achievements |
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3 patent applications (all in the last 4 years). |
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Over 70 conference & colloquium presentations including
invited presentations over the last three years that include Society
for Information Display (SID) USA, SID Mid-Europe, SID UK, Institute
of Physics UK, Society for Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineering
(SPIE) USA, Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturers Institution (SEMI)
Europe and UK, Electronic Displays Forum (EDF) Japan, Intertech
OLEDs 2002 USA, Optical Society of America (OSA), Institution of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) USA, Dundee University,
Cavendish Lab University of Cambridge. |
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C. |
Photographs |
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Striking images demonstrating the minute scale of MicroEmissive
Displays Ltd.’s Microdisplays are available from Micro Emissive
Displays:
Tel: +44 (0)131 650 7764
Fax: +44 (0)131 650 7761
info@microemissive.com |
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A number of .jpgs will be available from Photographer, Gary Doak
from the evening of 1 October 2004 (mob: 07836 255 728; 0131 346
2801. Images available:
- Presentation Ceremony;
- Individual Head and shoulder shots of The Winner, Dr Ian
Underwood;
- The President of the RSE, Lord Sutherland of Houndwood;
- The Chairman of The Gannochy Trust, Dr Russell Leather. |
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D. |
Video Footage |
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Beta copies of video featuring the winner, Dr Underwood,
explaining his work and its importance, are available from Stuart
Brown at The Royal Society of Edinburgh (contacts below). |
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E. |
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) |
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The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s National
Academy of Science & Letters. It is an independent body with
charitable status. The Society organises conferences and lectures
for the specialist and for the general public. It provides a forum
for informed debate on issues of national and international
importance. Its multidisciplinary fellowship of men and women of
international standing provides independent, expert advice to key
decision-making bodies, including Government and Parliament. |
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The Society’s Research Awards programme annually awards well
over £1.5 million to exceptionally talented young academics and
potential entrepreneurs to promote commercial exploitation of
inventiveness and boost wealth-generation. |
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The RSE is active in classrooms from the Borders to the Northern
Isles, with a successful programme of lectures and hands-on
workshops for primary and secondary school pupils.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, working as part of the UK and
within a global context, is committed to the future of Scotland’s
social, economic and cultural well-being. The RSE is Scottish
Charity No. SC000470
Further information about the RSE can be found on its website at:
http://www.royalsoced.org.uk |
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F. |
The Gannochy Trust |
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The Gannochy Trust is a grant-making Trust based in Perth, which
makes donations to charities in Scotland, with a preference for
Perth and its environs. The Trust was founded in 1937 by Arthur
Kinmond Bell, whisky distiller and philanthropist, who had
previously built a model housing estate of 150 houses in Perth. |
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In recent years the Trustees have enlarged the estate with a
further 63 sheltered houses, which they maintain and administer, in
addition to farms, recreation grounds and other properties.
A number of civic, recreational and social projects in Perth bear
witness to major charitable support from the Trust. In addition,
many small charities in Perth receive regular donations.
Other charitable organisations, large and small throughout
Scotland, have been the recipients of donations from the Trust. |
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