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Scotland leads the way for innovation

10th June 2008

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 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.

A spokesperson from Universities Scotland said: “Research and innovation is extremely important to the success of the Scottish economy. Scottish universities are punching well above their weight when it comes to research.”

They added: “In 2005, Higher Education R&D (HERD) was £688 million in Scotland, 12.4% of the UK total and 0.70% of GDP. In comparison to other regions within the UK, Scotland ranks first in terms of HERD as a percentage of GDP. The role of higher education in investing in research and development is vital for the economic vibrancy of Scotland now but most importantly in years to come. “

The report comes ahead of the launch of the national John Logie Baird Awards for Innovation Programme which includes categories for universities and research institutions.

The key objective of the Awards are to identify and highlight innovative commercial ideas in Scotland, to provide a range of benefits and assistance to entrepreneurs and companies, and ultimately to optimise the commercialisation of the best business ideas in Scotland and beyond.

The Awards are presented to the innovative projects with the best prospects of commercial success and provide a full programme of support and national publicity to the winners.

Organised by Glasgow Opportunities (GO) in conjunction with Malcolm Baird, the son of John Logie Baird, the awards are returning after a five-year break. Now with the active support of the John Logie Baird family for the first time, the 2008 Awards look set to put Scotland on the map for global innovation.

Son Malcolm Baird added: “My father first dreamt up the concept of television while he was still a teenager 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.”

He added: “Of course, we’ve come a long way since then. Scotland now needs a new thrust of ideas and innovation and that’s what the John Logie Baird Award are aiming to achieve – to encourages Scotland’s finest innovators to harness their potential and turn their ideas and dreams into commercial success.”

Isabell Majewsky, chief executive of organisers GO Group, said: “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.”

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.

John Logie Baird Awards: How to Enter

Initially, entrants will compete at a regional level, with judges looking for originality, entrepreneurial ability, market potential and the ability to develop the idea.

Regional winners are selected to go forward to the national competition and are judged National Winners in the following categories:

• The John Logie Baird Award for Knowledge Transfer Champion
-Encouraging academic entrants

• The John Logie Baird Award for Impact through Innovation

Encouraging established business entrants

• The John logie Baird Award for Achievement in Innovation

Encouraging a broad range of entrants

• The John Logie Baird Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit

Encouraging entrants who have fully realised the commercial opportunity from their invention or innovation

• The John Logie Baird Award for Young Inventor

Encouraging young entrants below the age of 30 years

• The John Logie Baird Award for the Public and Third Sector

Encouraging entrants from the public and charitable sectors.

There will also be a discretionary Award: The John Logie Baird Innovator of the Year Award – this will be awarded on merit and not through application.

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