And finally…Thanks for the memories

Professor Jim Scott developed the memories now used in millions of e-money smartcards around the world such as the Oyster cards of the London transport network.

The nano-memories were designed over 30 years ago in a Colorado lab with no funding but because Prof Scott’s patents have expired he is not entitled to any of the profits from the use of his work in products, including in computer memories and London’s Oyster system.

After being presented with the Unesco medal for contributions to nanoscience and nanotechnology in honour of his pioneering research on ferroelectric materials and devices, Professor Scott said: “The project was unusual because it started in a university lab with no funding — one professor, one very young assistant professor and only two students.

“It went all the way to £100 million a year in devices being produced commercially, but I get zero royalties, since my patents have all expired.”

After being presented with his medal at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, he said: “I am very grateful for this recognition.

“This work began in 1984 and has taken more than 30 years; it is not like winning the lottery.

“Instead it represents working weekends for several decades with the tolerance of a very patient wife.

“The project was unusual because it started in a university lab with no funding – one professor, one very young assistant professor and only two students.

“It went all the way to £100 million a year in devices being produced commercially, but I get zero royalties, since my patents have all expired.”

UNESCO’s prize for nano-science recognises that making electronics smaller allows less power to be used, reducing environmental pollution and carbon emissions.

Mr Scott joined St Andrews University last year after 16 years at Cambridge University.