Manchester, UK is regarded as the home of the Industrial Revolution, and will fittingly host the 2006 European Microwave Week from Sunday 10 September to Friday 15 September, to promote the RF and microwave industry’s current invention and productivity. Aptly too, the G-MEX/MICC that will house this flagship event has its own industrial lineage and is a prime example of the regeneration that typifies modern Manchester — it is a former train station that will provide the ideal platform for the industry to display its skills and expertise. The city has been a major port and trading centre since the 1700s but in 2006 visitors to EuMW will be trading ideas and views at the four major conferences and introducing and marketing their products at the European Microwave Exhibition.
A great deal of effort has gone into ensuring that the Week is not only informative and productive but also relaxed and sociable. The conferences reflect our industry’s innovation and endeavour, covering all aspects of RF, microwave, millimetre and submillimetre-wave engineering including microwave and photonic devices, component technologies, circuits and systems. The programme embraces theoretical, experimental and applications-oriented approaches to wireless, radar, device and circuit technologies and industrial applications, as well as addressing emerging technologies and topical subjects such as ultra-wideband technologies, power amplifiers and linearization, terahertz technologies and MEMS. The increasing interest in industrial and applications-oriented research is also evident and is a focus of the wide variety of workshops, short courses and focused sessions being run.
There is nothing more practical and applications-oriented than the actual products that are borne from such research and development and these can be found at the European Microwave Week Exhibition in the Central Hall of the G-MEX Centre. Spanning three days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) the exhibition has made its presence felt over recent years and established itself as the premier RF and microwave trade show in Europe. It attracts leading industry players not just from Europe but also from around the globe with North America providing significant numbers and Asian participation expanding rapidly. Visitors can see first hand the latest innovations and new product introductions, discuss specific areas of interest with development engineers and find the right products for their specific applications.
The official European Microwave Week opening ceremony on Monday morning is open to delegates from all conferences, while Tuesday sees the EuMW Welcome Reception (see Social Events), which has become a highlight of the week. Open to delegates and exhibitors it provides the unique opportunity for academia and industry to get together to eat, drink and exchange ideas socially. It is also a thank you to all those that attend and participate at EuMW 2006.
This and other important events, both business-related and social, should not be missed. To help you plan your visit the following quick reference guide is designed to complement the Conference Programme and Exhibition Catalogue, where you will find more detailed information.
The Conferences
The four conferences run throughout the week, with workshops and short courses (some of which are joint sessions) being run on Sunday 10 and Friday 15, while the conference sessions are scheduled as follows:
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The 36th European Microwave Conference (EuMC 2006) runs from Monday 11 through Thursday 14
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The European Conference on Wireless Technology (ECWT 2006) is on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12
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The first European Microwave Integrated Circuits (EuMIC) conference takes place on Monday 11 through Wednesday 13
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The European Radar Conference (EuRAD 2006) ends the week on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14.
Registration begins on Saturday 9 September (16.00–19.00) and commences at 07.30 each morning from Sunday 10 to Friday 15. The registration area is located in the main foyer of the G-MEX Centre; delegate bag collection is in the upper foyer of the MICC.
The European Microwave Conference (EuMC)
The exceptionally high number of submissions received from all over the world has resulted in a high quality and comprehensive technical programme. The conference is dedicated to a broad range of high frequency related topics, from materials and technologies to integrated circuits, systems and applications, addressed in all aspects: theory, simulation, design and measurement and is intended as a forum for the presentation and discussion of the most recent advances.
A striking feature this year has been the very high number of submitted papers in the topics of antennas, filters and passive components. Also, the large Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects funded through the European Union’s 6th Framework Programme of research are maturing and producing interesting results. Several of these are relevant to the themes of the conference and are playing a prominent role though focused sessions, workshops and other activities.
In what is an increase over last year there will be 60 regular oral sessions, including several focused sessions on specific topics, and two poster sessions, located in the European Microwave Exhibition Hall. The concept of EuMW favours the integration of the four component conferences, uniting their respective communities. In this spirit, EuMC features nine joint sessions with its sister conferences: EuMIC, ECWT and EuRAD. In addition, there are various workshops designed to encourage technical exchanges on certain topics, which will take place on Sunday 10 and Friday 15.
Prizes and Awards
The EuMC Microwave Prize will be given in recognition of the best contributed paper. Also, the EuMC is awarding the Young Engineer Prize to the young engineer judged to have submitted and presented an outstanding paper at the conference.
ECWT 2006
This is not only Europe’s premier meeting on wireless technology it is also a growing international event, demonstrated by the fact that ECWT received a record number of papers from over 50 counties with a significant proportion of contributors from North America and the Asia Pacific region.
The conference is primarily focused on wireless technology, which was once synonymous with mobile phone systems but has developed much further in recent years. Advances in technology for the phone industry are the enabling force behind many innovations in communications using microwave and mm-wave signals. The evolution from 2G to 3G with the associated shift from voice to data signals has also enabled many more general applications as well as incorporating computer and Internet communications principles. Consequently, this year’s conference has grown to accommodate these new concepts.
As well as established ECWT topics like antennas and integrated modules, the conference incorporates growing areas such as UWB, WiMAX and HSDPA through to fledgling topics like Cognitive Radio and Ad Hoc Networks. This in conjunction with joint topics in the European Microwave Conference and parallel sessions with the new EuMIC conference offers delegates an intensive update on all the new developments in this industry. They can also discover the latest thinking at the ECWT poster session that will be located in the European Microwave Exhibition Hall on Wednesday.
EuMIC
The GAAS® Association and the European Microwave Association have worked together to produce this new conference, which maintains the excellent traditions of the former GAAS® symposia but is organised cohesively together with the other conferences within European Microwave Week. As the name suggests this conference will focus on all monolithic microwave integrated circuits whether they are fabricated using silicon, silicon germanium, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride or any other semiconductor material.
The global involvement and interest in the subjects covered is illustrated by the fact that the technical program, which consists of 85 papers, selected from 189 submitted, represents the work of over 20 countries. Industry and academia participate side by side, which is demonstrated by the three invited speakers at the plenary session which has a definite industrial applications focus.
There are also focused sessions on: characterisation and modeling of microwave power amplifiers within TARGET; MOSFET compact models for RF/microwave applications; advanced technology for transceive modules; and devices and circuits for 100 GHz and beyond, together with a rejuvenated panel session on the future of the GAAS® foundry business. Alongside these technical sessions there is a selection of workshops and a short course, including the ever-popular one-day event on the fundamentals of microwave power amplifier design. There are half-day workshops on SiGe:C HBT: device, technology and application; RF materials and devices; circuit-level linearization techniques; and nonlinear device noise models and low phase noise oscillator design.
Prizes and Awards
To acknowledge the high quality of papers presented at the conference a €3000 prize will be awarded for the best paper and WIN Semiconductors Corp. is sponsoring a €2000 prize for the best student paper. The GAAS® Association will present these winners with a plaque commemorating their achievement, and will be providing three other student fellowships for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed student papers.
European Radar Conference (EuRAD)
Right from its inception European Microwave Week has involved radar activities; with the number of radar related papers increasing year by year until in Amsterdam in October 2004, the current series of separate conferences began. That growth has continued with 2006 seeing a substantial conference programme consisting of 55 papers for oral presentation and 35 poster papers. The poster session will be presented in the European Microwave Exhibition Hall on Thursday 14.
Contributions have been received from authors from many countries around the world covering a wide range of topics. Among them are presentations on sparse antenna arrays, remote sensing of the atmosphere, ultra-wideband radar, real-time signal processing, novel antennas, SAR, new transmitter techniques, millimetre-wave radar and netted radars. Also included are workshops on radio astronomy techniques with a visit to Jodrell bank and a workshop on microwave sensors and imaging systems.
Prizes and Awards
The Raytheon sponsored Radar Prize of €3000 is awarded to the paper that best advances the state-of-the-art in radar while the Young Engineers Prize of €2000 will go to a young engineer or researcher who has presented an outstanding paper at the conference.
The Exhibition
For its duration the FREE to enter European Microwave Week Exhibition becomes the hub of the event, housing the conference coffee breaks, poster sessions and hosting the ever popular and invaluable Cyber Café sponsored by CST. Over recent years the exhibition has grown and grown and in 2006 is larger than ever. It has become established as the premier European RF and microwave exhibition, which leading international companies target as a shop window for their latest introductions and innovations.
Over the three days the Central Hall of the G-MEX Centre will be home to companies large and small, established and developing from Europe, North America, Asia and beyond. To find out just who these companies are see the latest exhibitor list, starting on page 54. The common link is that all the companies are actively developing and producing products and services for the RF and microwave industry. Visitors have the chance to find out what is new and under development and talk technical with the experts. That is also the case at the various technical exhibitor workshops and seminars that run alongside the exhibition.
The success of last year’s event in Paris is being carried over to Manchester in the guise of the French Pavilion, incorporating the Limoges Pavilion, providing the opportunity for companies, large and small, to exhibit side by side under the Tricolour. To find it look out for the green carpeting.
Also, the advantage of EuMW moving around Europe on a five-year cycle is that small companies from the host country who may not exhibit abroad can get together as a group and showcase their products, so look out for a number of UK companies who have banded together to display their wares.
Exhibition Hours
Tuesday 12 September: 09.30–17.30 (followed by the Welcome Reception)
Wednesday 13 September: 09.30–17.30
Thursday 14 September: 09.30–16.30
Getting to G-MEX/MICC
For most overseas visitors, Manchester Airport provides the most convenient entry to the north of England. It has three terminals and two runways, and approximately 100 airlines serve over 200 destinations worldwide. The airport is located about 10 miles southwest of the city centre, where you’ll find the G-MEX/MICC and a plethora of hotels. A frequent 24-hour train service links the airport directly to central Manchester and the airport rail station is adjacent to Terminal 1 International. Direct trains run approximately every ten minutes between Piccadilly Railway Station (in the city centre) and the airport between 5.40 am–11.30 pm, then approximately every hour through the night. The journey time is 15 to 20 minutes and costs approximately £3. By taxi the journey time is 20 to 30 minutes and costs approximately £12. For more information, visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
Manchester is also served by two mainline railway stations, both of which are located in the city centre. Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly together provide direct rail connections to all major UK cities — the journey time to London is three hours, Birmingham two hours and Edinburgh and Glasgow four hours. Both stations are linked directly by the Metrolink system to GMEX/MICC, which has its own station. If travelling by road, Manchester is ringed by the M60 and ideally close to the UK’s extensive motorway network giving easy access to all parts of the country.
Sightseeing
Organised trips under the Partner Programme include an excursion to the Wedgwood Visitors Centre and Potteries Museum on Tuesday 12 September. Here guests will have the chance to visit the six towns around Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, known as the Potteries and the heart of the British china and porcelain industry, together with the Wedgwood Visitors Centre, which celebrates the work of master potter, Josiah Wedgwood.
On Thursday 14 September there is a trip to the Peak District and Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, one of the most beautiful stately homes in the UK, parts of which date back to the 16th century. This magnificent house is set in a beautiful estate of 35,000 acres, part of which was landscaped by Lancelot (Capability) Brown in the 18th century. The 100 acre gardens were designed by Sir Joseph Paxton.
These trips are subject to the required numbers being achieved. Pre-registration is strongly recommended but there will be the ability to register on site.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 240 V, 50 Hz.
Hotel Reservations
If you require hotel accommodation during your stay in Manchester, the Hotelzon Resotel booking agency makes reservations at reduced rates in various three, four and five star hotels. This service is offered at no charge. For more information contact the agency at Tel: +44 (0) 20 8722 6920. Alternatively you can access the agency’s booking service at www.eumw2006.com, under Accommodation.
Social Events
On Monday 11th EuMIC will be celebrating its inception with a Reception and Dinner to be held at the magnificent venue of Manchester Town Hall. The evening will start with a reception in the atmospheric and architecturally stunning Sculpture Hall, with a talk by the honoured guest, the Lord Mayor of Manchester. This will be followed by a four-course meal in the cathedral-like Great Hall and the after dinner speech by David Smith, managing director of Filtronic Compound Semiconductors Ltd., who sponsor the evening.
The EuMW2006 Welcome Reception follows on Tuesday 12 from 18.30–21.00. All registered conference delegates from all four conferences, as well as representatives from the companies participating in the exhibition are invited to this Agilent Technologies, EuMA and Horizon House Publications sponsored event. The Welcome Reception will be held in the Great Northern Hall, which is located in the MICC. There are two entrances; one through the upper foyer and the second through the link from the exhibition. The evening will begin with a champagne reception and a welcome speech by Platinum sponsor Agilent Technologies, who will also present such desirables as iPods and digital cameras in its Prize Draw. Then there is the good food, drink and conversation, of course.
On Wednesday 13 September, the EuMW Gala Dinner will be held at Old Trafford Stadium, the home of Manchester United, which has played host to every level of football over the years including World Cup and European Championship matches. The Gala Dinner will kick off with a drinks reception in Legends, the section of the Manchester United Museum dedicated to the ‘greats’ of the game, followed by the Gala Dinner in a Hospitality Suite where club honours adorn the walls.
Please Note: Should the date of the EuMW Gala Dinner coincide with a football match when the fixtures list is announced during the summer then it will be swapped with the EuMW2006 Welcome Reception.
Last but not least, on Thursday 14 September the EuRAD conference dinner, sponsored by QinetiQ, will be held in the Banqueting Room of the historic Manchester Town Hall, which dates back to Victorian times and is a splendid example of neo-gothic architecture. During the dinner, two prizes, sponsored by Raytheon, will be presented.
General Information
In advance, take time to familiarise yourself with the event and plan your visit by logging onto the show web site at www.eumw2006.com.