What others say
“More than eighty years after John Logie Baird’s invention revolutionised the world, his enterprising spirit remains with us. Scotland retains as much of a passion for innovation and excellence as ever.
“That’s why the relaunch of the John Logie Baird Awards is so welcome and so important. The Awards are a call for inventors and innovators to demonstrate excellence and offer support to bring new ideas to market. In capitalising on Scotland’s strengths, the Awards will help increase Scotland’s global competitiveness and create and sustain economic growth.
“Just like John Logie Baird, I’ve no doubt this generation of Scottish innovators can inspire future generations to take a leap forward and make the world a better place.”
First Minister Alex Salmond
The John Logie Baird Awards are widely recognised in having helped companies exploit and commercialise their inventions.
“John Logie Baird first dreamt up the concept of television while he was still a schoolboy in Helensburgh in 1903. He went on to dedicate most of his life to that dream right up to his death in 1946 when his company was developing the first 28 inch television screen. Of course, we’ve come a long way since then. In today’s world, Scotland’s traditional heavy industries have given way to a new revolution in ideas and innovation. What makes the John Logie Baird Awards Programme so special is the way in which it encourages Scotland’s finest innovators, harnesses their potential and turns their ideas and dreams into reality. For that reason, the John Logie Baird family are delighted in giving their full support to such an initiative”.
Professor Malcolm Baird
Universities across Scotland are out-classing America’s Ivy League Colleges when it comes to research and innovation. A report by Universities Scotland shows that the likes of Glasgow University, St. Andrews and Edinburgh University overshadow world-renowned Harvard, Yale and Stanford colleges.
The report, released to illustrate the impact of innovation and research from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Scotland, showed that HEIs produce 1% of the world’s research. Not bad from a nation which represents 0.07% of the world’s population.
“The John Logie Baird Awards Programme is about recognising and celebrating success within Scotland. We’re a small nation but as this report proves, we make a significant impact to the UK and the world.”
Isabell Majewsky, Chief Executive of organisers The GO Group
In fact, according to The Scottish Innovation System report released in 2006, Scottish HEIs received 11.4% of total UK HEI funding, and 13.4% of all UK research income. This is a considerable strength considering Scotland has 8.5% of UK population and 11.6% of HEIs. It also indicated a considerable strength in attracting research income; HEIs also attracted 50% more research council funding per head of population than English HEIs
