Document quoted in tiny text on microchips

A Tayside-educated entrepreneur who engraved minute text from the Declaration of Arbroath on to his company’s silicon chips in the USA has told how he was influenced by Scotland’s “symbol of freedom” when he set up his innovative business 15 years ago.

Former Blairgowrie High School pupil Andrew Walker said he called his Silicon Valley company Schiltron Corporation in tribute to the battle formation used by the Scots in the 13th and 14th Century wars of independence.

The Dundee University physics graduate, who entered the silicon chip industry after leaving Scotland in 1985, said he was inspired because the schiltron was supposed to be an innovation by a relatively weak power.

While initially defensive, it could be turned into an attacking formation that could ultimately lead to success – a notion that he encapsulated in his approach to business.

“When I designed the company’s silicon chip, I included the text from the Declaration of Arbroath in both Latin and English on the chip itself,” he said, speaking ahead of the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath on April 6.

“The text is small enough that it can fit across the width of a human hair.

“The reason I chose to put that on the chip was, to me, the Declaration was a symbol of persistence, perseverance and independence.

“I think my interest in it started growing after I left Scotland in 1985.

“It became a symbol of freedom to me. It resonated strongly when I came to Silicon Valley in 1994 because of the start-up mentality all around.”

Andrew Walker.