Gannochy Trust Innovation award call for entries 2010

Prestigious Innovation Award is announced today

The Gannochy Trust and The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) are calling for entries to their 2010 Innovation Award, which carries one cash prize of £50,000 and a specially commissioned gold medal. The closing date for entries is 14th May 2010.

Targeted at the next generation of Scottish innovators, any individual aged 45 and under, working in Scotland is eligible to enter provided they have an innovation which has reached or passed “Proof of concept” stage and will make an important contribution to Scotland’s well being.

John Swinney MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Finance and Sustainable Growth says: “Scotland has a long and proud record of innovation. The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award will help ensure that a new generation of Scots innovators will maintain that tradition. The Scottish Government's economic strategy highlights the crucial importance of innovation to improving productivity and increasing sustainable economic growth and we welcome the excellent work by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Gannochy Trust in spreading that message."

The award has helped past winners to raise the profile of their companies and their unusual innovations, both in Scotland and overseas and the cash prize has proved invaluable since it can be multiplied with matching private and public sector funding.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, is Scotland’s “National Academy of Science and Letters. It was founded in 1783 by Royal Charter for the “Advancement of Learning and Useful Knowledge”. It has 1500 Fellows whose expertise encompasses the full spectrum of sciences, medicine, engineering and technology, education, law, the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, industry, the professions and public service. This mulit-disciplinary perspective makes the RSE unique amongst the UK’s learned societies. The Gannochy Trust is a grant-making trust founded in 1937 by Arthur Kinmond Bell, whisky distiller and philanthropist.

“Scotland is famous the world over for its talent. Scottish inventors have created penicillin, lime cordial, the telephone, the television, and pneumatic tyres to list a few. That contribution to Scotland’s economy and well being is enormous. The Gannochy Trust Innovation Award of The Royal Society of Edinburgh seeks to encourage younger people to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology and research which promote Scotland’s inventiveness internationally. It also recognises outstanding individual achievement which contributes to the common good of Scotland,” says RSE President Lord Wilson of Tillyorn.

Past winners of this prestigious award are Dr Andrew Mearns Spragg and Dr Colin Urquhart. Dr Spragg of Aquapharm Bio Discovery in Oban, developed new technology making compounds from a new species of marine micro-organism which have the potential to make an important contribution to the fight against hospital acquired infections such as MRSA. Dr Colin Urquhart’s breakthrough technology is the first commercial application in the world that uses passive stereo photogrammetry to instantaneously capture accurate, high resolution 3D surface images. These are now being used worldwide in the field of facial surgery to capture photo-realistic 3D models of patients before and after facial surgery.

It’s easy to enter – a nomination form must be completed in full, with an additional two A4 single-sided pages attached. The names of two referees must be provided, and a one-page CV must be included with the nomination papers. The individuals nominated must be based in Scotland, or have other substantial connections with Scotland, be able to demonstrate outstanding innovation and achievement, and the potential for social and economic benefit and must be aged 45 and under at January 1st 2010. The closing date for entries is 14th May 2010.

Application forms are available from The Royal Society of Edinburgh E: gannochyaward@royalsoced.org.uk tel 0131 240 5013