Genoffir Macleod, VP and General Counsel of Thermo Fisher and Professor Steven McLaughlin Head of School, Engineering and Physical Sciences, at Heriot-Watt University have been appointed to the Innovation Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems (CENSIS) board. Both bring a wide range of experience, skills and experience to the centre at a crucial time as the centre prepares for its next phase.

Macleod has over 20 years’ experience in deal-making with academic and industrial partners with the intent of accelerating innovation. A strategic focus for MacLeod is digital and cloud enablement technologies, in addition to fostering innovation. While McLaughlin’s research interests involve the application of adaptive signal processing to biomedical, energy and communication systems.

McLaughlin is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of the IET, and IEEE. His work with biomedical, energy and communication systems will help the centre as it engages with end-users of IoT and SIS to generate economic growth. This appointment reflects the fact that it is increasingly working with businesses using the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors systems to operate more profitably or efficiently – rather than just technology developers.

Bob Downes, Chair of CENSIS, said:

“I am delighted that CENSIS has been able to attract such high-calibre people to join our Board. Their expertise will help us succeed in a world hungry for Internet of things application, driving growth and jobs in Scotland.”

“Coming from a multinational and academia, respectively, Genoffir and Steve reflect our varied stakeholder group at CENSIS. Their diverse perspectives and experience in different sectors will be valuable as we plan our future engagement with industry.”

Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“The Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise welcome these appointments which will bring strong expertise in both business engagement and communications systems, both hugely important for CENSIS.”

“It is vital that Scotland benefits from a wide range of expertise to stay ahead in the expanding business sectors that CENSIS works in, and we are sure that Genoffir and Steve’s experience will help CENSIS grow innovation in these exciting areas.”