Strathclyde Receives Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Photonics Research and Innovation
The Award was presented by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of Strathclyde’s excellence in research and innovation in the field of Photonics – the science of light.
Part of the UK’s Honours system, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize is the highest national accolade in the sector and has been collected by Strathclyde in its Diamond Jubilee year – the 60th anniversary of the conferral of its Royal Charter university status by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Strathclyde’s Principal & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, collected the award on behalf of the University at the ceremony which was also attended by the Chancellor Lord Smith of Kelvin and other colleagues, including Professors Jennifer Hastie, Keith Mathieson and Martin Dawson from the Institute of Photonics.
Innovative approach
Sir Jim said: “This Queen’s Anniversary Prize – our fourth such award – is a testament to our innovative approach and dedication to excellence in photonics research and innovation.
“It reflects the expertise, hard work and innovative approach to partnership working of colleagues across our academic, operational services and professional services teams, as well as our collaborations with industry partners and our contributions to society and the broader industrial sectors we engage with.
“Our third successive Queen’s Anniversary Prize, and fourth in total, it speaks volumes about the quality of our staff and our academic output.
To collect it in the year when we are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of the conferral of our university status is particularly special.
The accolade follows Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Strathclyde in 1996 for Electrical Power Engineering, 2019 for Energy Innovation and in 2021 for Advanced Manufacturing capabilities.
Internationally recognised
The latest prize reflects the University’s longstanding and internationally recognised contribution to photonics research and development and its four-decade journey in establishing a globally acknowledged photonics ecosystem.
In awarding the prize, the judges highlighted Strathclyde’s dynamic research community, its record of enterprise and successful commercialisation, and its close partnership working with industry.
Strathclyde’s pioneering role in photonics began in 1982 with the establishment of a Chair in Photonics, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.
Today, the University boasts a cluster of more than 230 photonics researchers, making it one of the largest groups in the UK. Strathclyde is also home to the UK’s first and only Fraunhofer Centre, dedicated to translating cutting-edge research into real-world applications.
The Prize not only showcases Strathclyde’s significant contributions to business and industry but also celebrates the collective effort and commitment of the University’s staff and students.