University news

A new £5million Electronics Design Centre aimed at boosting the electronics design industry in Scotland has been opened at the University of Glasgow.

The new Electronics Design Centre for Heterogeneous Systems (EDC) is funded by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) initiative aimed at supporting vital research areas. By bringing together experts in the design and fabrication of electronic systems in the one centre Scotland will be at the forefront of breakthroughs in drug development, communications systems and homeland security.

Situated alongside the new £4million James Watt Nanofabrication Centre at the University, which was opened earlier this year, the EDC is unique in bringing together experts both in the design and assembly of groundbreaking nanotechnology devices in one location.

Director of the EDC Professor David Cumming said: “This new Centre has been funded by the EPSRC after it became apparent that there was a gap in British electronics research for the design of electronic devices and systems. This Centre will move forward the industry in the UK by allowing researchers to work together in the design and the creation of groundbreaking technology”.

In addition to the further funding received from the Scottish Funding Council, the EDC is working in close collaboration with world-wide electronics supplier Agilent Technologies. Agilent have provided the latest design, test and measurement technology for the Centre and will be funding leading research to be undertaken there.

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Notes to editors

For more information please contact Kate Richardson in the University of Glasgow’s Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

About EPSRC
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK’s main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. The EPSRC invests around £740 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. Website address for more information on EPSRC: www.epsrc.ac.uk

The EPSRC contributed  £3.55 million to the Electronics Design Centre.

About SFC
SFC is a non-departmental public body responsible to - but operating at arm's length from - the Scottish Executive.  It distributes more than £1.6 billion of public funds annually to 43 colleges and 19 higher education institutions on behalf of the Scottish Executive.  This funding provides financial support for learning and teaching, research and associated activities.  Further information on the Council is available at www.sfc.ac.uk

The SFC contributed £626, 232 to the Electronics Design Centre.

About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of £2.5 billion in fiscal 2006. Information about Agilent can be found at www.agilent.co.uk

The equipment provided by Agilent for the Electronics Design Centre consists of a B1500A Semiconductor Device Analyser configured for advanced Mosfet parametric analysis, three Performance Network Analysers covering frequency ranges from 20GHz to 325GHz and beyond, a  4294A Impedance Analyser, two MSO6104A Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes for analysis of digital and analogue systems, an Infiniium Digital Communications Analysis for jitter analysis and multiple copies of Agilent’s Advanced Design Software.

First published: 23 August 2007