Engineering news
Entries for the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) award, which recognises outstanding engineering innovations which have proven commercial success and “tangible benefit” to society, are open until 31 January 2018.
Recipients of the award, which was launched in 1969, include EMI in 1972 for the since widely-deployed CT Scanner, and Cambridge Display Technologies in 2002 for its light-emitting polymer displays for televisions and smartphones. Winning teams receive £50,000, gold medals – and, said the academy, national acclaim.
Applicants are welcomed from across the engineering spectrum, and former IMechE president John Baxter CBE told Professional Engineering that mechanical engineers are well suited. “Over the last four decades the MacRobert Award has recognised many mechanical engineers for their pioneering innovations, including Blatchford in 2016 for the development of the world’s most intelligent prosthetic limb,” said Baxter, one of the award judges.
“To be a mechanical engineer you must be innovative and find creative solutions to problems,” he added. “This inventive ethos, which benefits society, is what the MacRobert Award seeks to celebrate and I look forward to seeing some ground-breaking mechanical engineering innovations entered this year.”
At least two judges visit all of the shortlisted candidates before they select three finalists, who then meet the whole panel.
“I am always inspired by the quality and variety of MacRobert Award entries,” said panel chairwoman Dame Sue Ion DBE. “Over the last few years I have been honoured to judge engineering innovation of the highest distinction – ranging from medtech to software, electronics to aeronautics and from thriving businesses of all sizes including SMEs and engineering giants. Recognising these achievements, which demonstrate UK engineering innovation, commercial success and benefit to society, is extremely important.”
This year, judges recognised the team behind the Raspberry Pi microcomputer for “redefining how people learn about and engage with computing”. CEO Eben Upton CBE called the award “the ultimate recognition”.
“As a nation, we are hugely talented and innovative when it comes to engineering,” he said. “It's almost impossible to predict which sector the next winner will come from as we have so many engineering strengths in the UK. I could easily see a winner emerging from computing, medtech, materials engineering or fintech next year. I would urge companies to apply so that we can continue to celebrate forward-thinking, ground-breaking UK businesses.”
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily reflect the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.