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Initiative to coordinate European microwave technology

09.01.2008

Microwave technology is a broad and diversified field with activities scattered among many European industrial actors. Therefore, the GigaHertz Centre at Chalmers University of Technology gathers industrial and academic microwave stakeholders across Europe at a meeting in Brussels with representatives for the EU Commission. The meeting takes place on January 10 2008.

This is an important step for the European Microwave community. Experiences from other sectors clearly demonstrate the importance and impact of collaboration and industrial coordination, says Dr Peter Olanders at Ericsson, Chairman of the GigaHertz Centre.

Microwave technology is used in many applications ranging from microwave heating to complete communication systems, and thus represents a true multidisciplinary field encompassing semiconductors, components, modules, complex systems, and infrastructures.

Consequently, the European industry which uses microwave technologies is relatively scattered. As a result, it has been difficult to gather and coordinate European microwave stakeholders in a joint effort to impact on the formulation of European Framework Programs.

In order to meet this challenge, the GigaHertz Centre at Chalmers has taken the initiative to organise a meeting in Brussels on 10 January 2008 between representatives for the EU Commission, a broad range of European industrial stakeholders, institutes and universities.

- Just like colleagues at other universities and institutes in Europe, researchers at Chalmers have found it frustrating that European microwave research is not more visible in the EU Framework Programs. With the GigaHertz Centre, we can reach much further in mobilising and involving European companies in coordinating and agreeing upon essential aspects of research and innovation needed for Europe to stay competitive, says Dr. Jan Grahn at Chalmers, Director of the GigaHertz Centre.

The goal of the meeting is to establish and expand the European industrial/academic microwave network, describe the future of European microwave industry and its position and impact on European growth, and establish the necessary research priorities to be made. These results will be essential in the process of formulating how Europe can take the global lead in selected microwave technologies.

The meeting will be opened by Director Rosalie Zobel from the EU Commission. From Chalmers, Vice President Stefan Bengtsson will be speaking about the European need for strong academic research- and educational environments in the field of microwaves. Meeting Chairman will be Peter Olanders at Ericsson.

In the GigaHertz Centre, Chalmers University of Technology together with seven companies (Ericsson, Infineon Technologies, Saab, NXP Semiconductors, Sivers IMA, Omnisys Instruments, Comheat Microwave) conduct joint research and innovation in microwave power (RF amplifiers and GaN circuits), system-on-chip mm-wave solutions, and low phase-noise circuit based oscillators. The research is partly supported by the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) in the VINN Excellence program. Web page: www.chalmers.se/ghz

Contact persons:
Jan Grahn, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg,
Director of the GigaHertz Centre
Tel: +46 (0)730-34 62 99
jan.grahn@chalmers.se

Peter Olanders, Ericsson AB, Kista,
Chairman of the GigaHertz Centre
Tel: +46 (0)8 -757 05 18
peter.olanders@ericsson.com

Eva Hellberg, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg,
Information Officer
Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience - MC2
Tel: +46 (0)31-772 18 98
eva.hellberg@chalmers.se