Top award for Wick scientist
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A CAITHNESS businessman has just returned after picking up a major scientific award at a ceremony in London.
Professor Iain Baikie, the founder of Wick-based KP Technology, was presented with the Swan Gold Medal by the Institute of Physics (IOP). It is awarded to recognise an outstanding contribution to the application of physics in an industrial or commercial context.
Mr B aikie is believed to be the first Scottish-based winner of the award, named after Joseph Swan, the inventor of the incandescent light bulb.
He received his medal at the annual IOP Awards dinner in the Lancaster Hotel in London and was accompanied by his wife, Elena.
He said: “This award confirms that commercially our relative geographical remoteness is an obstacle that can be overcome and it continues the Caithness link with innovation in science and technology.”
"Many of the guests were from very eminent research institutions so I was delighted to learn that our firm, and our products, was known by name. However, few realised that Caithness was our base."
The citation describes the worldwide impact of KP Technology as “astonishing”.
The company’s customers have included NASA, CERN nuclear research centre in Switzerland and the European Space Agency as well as leading universities and blue-chip companies in 35 countries.
The firm, which has a £1 million turnover, picked up the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2008 and the Queen’s Award in 2013.
