David Milne (technologist)

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David Milne
OBE FREng FRSE FIET
Born
Alastair David Milne

1942
Edinburgh, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Alma mater Bristol University
Heriot-Watt University
Scientific career
Fields Microelectronics
Institutions Wolfson Microelectronics
University of Edinburgh

Alastair David Milne is a Scottish technologist and founder and former CEO of the Wolfson Microelectronics company.

Contents

Early life and education

Milne was born in Edinburgh and attended George Watson's College. [1] He pursued higher education in physics, earning a Bachelors from Heriot-Watt University in 1966 and an MSc and then PhD from the University of Bristol in 1968. [1]

Career

In 1970, Milne joined the newly created Wolfson Industrial Liaison Unit at the University of Edinburgh. [1] In 1973 he was promoted to director, renamed the unit as the Wolfson Microelectronics Institute and changed its focus to the design of semiconductor devices. In 1984, he co-founded the spinout company Wolfson Microelectronics which developed audio processing products for consumer electronics made by major manufacturers including Apple Inc and Samsung. The company became the first successful spin-out from a Scottish university and the second to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. [2] Milne served as chief executive officer of Wolfson Microelectronics until 2007 and as non-executive director until 2012.

Milne has been active in the promotion of science and technology. He served as chairman of the Edinburgh International Science Festival [3] between 2007 and 2022, and as trustee and chair of the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation. [4]

Awards and recognition

In recognition of his contributions to technology and business he was awarded an OBE [5] in 1984, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh [6] in 1991, Fellowship of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in 1992, and Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering [7] in 2002.

He was awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Royal Medal [8] in 2012 and honorary degrees from the University of Bristol [1] and Heriot-Watt University [9] in 2007, and the University of Edinburgh [10] in 2008.

He has received several business awards including Scotland's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003. [11] He was inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame in 2024. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Honorary Graduate Professor David Milne". University of Bristol. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Scottish Engineering – Hall of Fame – Dr David Milne". Institution of Engineers in Scotland . 4 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "New appointments at the Edinburgh International Science Festival". Microelectronics International . 25. 28 December 2007. doi:10.1108/mi.2007.21825aab.006 . Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "About the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation". James Clerk Maxwell Foundation . 8 July 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Queen's Birthday Honours List". The London Gazette . 16 June 1984. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Dr David Milne". Royal Society of Edinburgh . 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Fellows Directory". Royal Academy of Engineering . 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "RSE Royal Medal". Royal Society of Edinburgh . 24 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Honorary Graduates" (PDF). Heriot-Watt University . 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. ↑ "University of Edinburgh - Honorary graduates 2007/08". University of Edinburgh . 25 May 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Leading entrepreneur named". BBC . 28 November 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
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