Atlantic Microwave is joining forces with University of Essex researchers. The co-operation between the two organisations is part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which is a UK-wide KTP programme that helps businesses innovate through targeted collaboration with leading academics and highly qualified graduates.

Atlantic Microwave, a specialist RF microwave equipment and component manufacturer, is looking to use Essex academic expertise to develop microwave antenna products using ground breaking liquid crystal technology.

The company hopes this novel solution will provide benefits to its global customer base in the aerospace, telecommunications, defence and scientific industries. The KTP scheme is co-funded by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK and helps ensure university research impacts the community, the economy and the skills agenda.

Geoff Burling, CEO, Atlantic Microwave Limited, said: “We are always looking for new ways to innovate and incorporate the latest technology and thinking into our products. We do this through in-house expertise and by partnering with institutions that offer our business fresh ideas, new technologies and new insight. The partnership with the University of Essex exploring the application of liquid crystal technology to our products is a great example of such collaboration and will, offer real commercial opportunities for us in the future."

Professor Dariush Mirshekar, who is the Head of Microwave and RF Research Laboratory in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at the University of Essex, will lead the project. He has consulted for several international telecommunication companies including BT, Nokia and will be work alongside a KTP Associate to deliver the partnership project.