Articles by Richard Mumford, International Editor

COST-TERRA, a forum spearheading a regulatory breakthrough for the European development of Cognitive Radio and Software Defined Radio (CR/SDR) technologies, is promoting more active trials of CR to identify its best feasible application, guide policy-makers to open a regulatory framework and facilitate development of the technology. After assessing several...

The first European antenna that is part of the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) was handed over to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in April. The antenna, which was under contract from the ESO, was manufactured by the European AEM Consortium (Thales Alenia Space, European Industrial Engineering and MT-Mechatronics)....

In an effort to help Europe develop world-class research and close the innovation gap between the European Union and its main competitors, the US and Japan, the EU is making about €7 B available in the latest round of grants. This is part of the €53 B available through...

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has published the ETSI Technical Committee for Satellite Earth stations and Systems (TC SES) specification TS 102 855, which considers how broadband satellite multimedia networks can be integrated into the Next Generation Network (NGN) architecture. It explores the technical challenges for satellite networks...

An expert group established as part of the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) has published a new report containing several key recommendations for the future of EU research policy. Since October 2010, the Synergies Expert Group (SEG) has been analysing how EU research policy should be aligned across the main...

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has signed an agreement with key Asian standards developers that will mean new technologies come to market quicker and at lower cost. ARIB (Japan), CCSA (China), TTA (Korea) and TTC (Japan) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ITU recognizing it as the...

The European Best-Reliable Ambient Intelligent Nano Sensor Systems (e-BRAINS) research project will conduct research into the integration of heterogeneous systems using 3D and nanotechnology. Led by Infineon and Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies (Fraunhofer EMFT), the project will run until the end of 2013. Nano-sensors will...

MBDA and ISL (the Franco-German Research Institute of St. Louis) have signed an international partnering agreement thereby extending the scope of the already existing cooperation between the two organizations. The aim of this agreement is to set up a common research framework between ISL, MBDA France and MBDA Germany....

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) have signed an Administrative Arrangement that aims to provide a structured relationship and a mutually beneficial cooperation between the two agencies through the coordination of their respective activities. The cooperation will, in particular, aim to explore the added...

The use of graphene-based electronic devices for RF and microwave applications has become high profile and the subject of cutting edge research, various aspects of which were outlined at the 2011 IEEE MTT-S IMS in June. Recognising the importance of the material, the European Commission is funding a coordinated...