Faraday Medal for Wipro boss

The IEE has presented its prestigious Faraday Medal to Azim Premji, Chairman of Indian IT company Wipro.

The IEE has presented its prestigious Faraday Medal to Azim Premji, Chairman of Indian IT company Wipro.

Premji is the first person from India to receive the award, which is presented annually for either notable scientific or industrial achievement in electrical engineering or for conspicuous service rendered to the advancement of electrical science.

The presentation took place at the IEE's Embedded Systems and Software International Conference held in Bangalore.

Sir Robin Saxby, Deputy President of the IEE and Chairman of ARM Technologies, presented the medal.

Sir Robin, a former Faraday Medal recipient himself, said: "I am delighted to present Mr Premji with the IEE Faraday Medal in recognition of his outstanding business leadership and contributions to elementary education in India".

Premji, a graduate in electronic engineering, said: "The Faraday Medal is a source of inspiration for those in the field of science, technology and engineering".

"This honour to me is recognition of India's capability in engineering and technology in the international arena".

"I am thankful to the IEE for considering me worthy of this award".

The IEE also announced plans to recruit staff and open offices in Bangalore and Delhi during 2006 and stage a number of other major events in India during the year.

Earlier this year the IEE became the first body of its type to open an office in Bejing.

Paul Jackson, the IEE's Director of Professional Operations, said: "As one of the largest engineering and technology institutions in the world we recognise the importance of engaging with engineers from fast developing nations such as India and China".

"They will be able to benefit from and contribute to our publishing and professional network activities that give access to vast amounts of knowledge, vital to the growth of engineering".

The Embedded Systems and Software Conference was held as part of the IEE's programme to engage with the engineering community in India, through conferences and encouraging participation in the discussion and exchange of ideas.

The Faraday medal was established in 1922 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first ordinary meeting of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, now the IEE.

The first recipient was Oliver Heavisides, who predicted the existence of an ionised reflective layer in the atmosphere, which bounces radio signals back to earth, and also the existence of subatomic particles.

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