Agilent Technologies and Tyndall National Institute Open State-of-the-Art Teaching and Research Laboratory

09/04/2013

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork officially opened a new laboratory for research and teaching in next-generation wireless communications. This state-of-the-art laboratory at Tyndall will enable advanced training and research on radio frequency integrated circuits for high-speed wireless data communications for video applications and contactless sensors for biomedical and security applications.

The laboratory is named after the 1909 Nobel prize-winning Italian scientist, Guglielmo Marconi (also known as the father of wireless communications), who moved to Ireland to carry out his research.

"We welcome the €800,000 investment from Agilent and the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, in the Marconi Laboratory at Tyndall," said Kieran Drain, CEO Tyndall National Institute. "This laboratory houses the latest industry-standard equipment and will ensure that the research team and students led by Dr. Domenico Zito continue the excellent work in emerging RF Communications at Tyndall.

At the opening of the Marconi Laboratory, Julian Brecknock, Agilent UK sales manager, said, "Agilent has always been committed to working with and supporting academic institutions to help develop the next generation of engineers, our participation with this lab and this institute will help to give current and future students valuable experience on cutting-edge equipment. This experience can only serve them well in the long run and I congratulate the Tyndall Institute on setting up such a facility."

"Having a laboratory equipped with a unique set of Agilent instruments for high-frequency, low-noise measurements up to 110 GHz is of great value to our researchers and students," said Dr. Zito. "We are very grateful to Agilent for their donation in CAD tools and instruments and the HEA investment in establishing the Marconi Lab as a worldwide center of excellence in low-noise, high-frequency measurements."

The Agilent equipment in the Marconi Lab includes a four-port PNA-X with ultra-low-noise receiver and five extension modules; a signal source analyzer with microwave down-converter and six extension modules; a millimetre-wave source module; and a small arsenal of very expensive cables, devices and units, up to 110 GHz.

Contribution from the Higher Educational Authority came through the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions Cycle 5, TYFFANI project and was co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund.

About Tyndall National Institute

The Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork is one of Europe's leading centres for information, communications and technology research and development. It is the largest facility of its kind in Ireland. Tyndall, formally known as the National Microelectonics Research Centre, was established in 2004 to provide a critical mass of researchers that would support the growth and development of a knowledge-based economy in Ireland.

Tyndall's research is guided by, and applied to, finding commercializable solutions for the needs of society in communications, energy, environment and health, through the development of new technology in the fields of photonics, micro/nanoelectronics, microsystems, theory modelling and design, and wafer fabrication.

Research is Tyndall's core activity and the many scientific and technological breakthroughs reported are testimony to the quality of research conducted at Tyndall. However, it is the application of that research and Tyndall's track record of industry engagement and licensing of technology to industry that sets it apart from other research providers. Education of the next generation of researchers is also of vital importance to the national economy. Tyndall is host to some 125 Ph.D. students, who make a major contribution to Tyndall's research output before going on to take their expertise and skills into further research and into industry. The fabrication, packaging and test facilities at Tyndall are extensive and are also used to provide technology support services to industry and other academic research centres.

Agilent Technologies Inc., www.agilent.com