2004 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Queen's University Belfast
Godfrey Gaston
The Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT)

Image of ECIT building

ECIT is a 60M Euro initiative supported by Invest Northern Ireland with funding from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II). Located as a flagship development in the Northern Ireland Science Park, ECIT establishes a new world-class research centre that brings together, in one building, research groups working in the key areas of advanced digital and communications technology. The Institute provides a focus for extending the important links that the university has already developed with major industrial partners and research centres throughout the world. ECIT provides a balance and rich mixture of 'blue skies' and strategic/industrial related research.

New research groups have been created to build on existing expertise, create a strong cross-disciplinary environment, and develop a major emphasis on significant technology drivers that are of key industrial relevance. The areas of research activity include: Advanced Networks, High Frequency Electronic Circuits/Antennas, Telecommunications Software, Digital Signal Processing for Communications, System-on-Chip, Image and Vision Systems, and Speech and Language Processing.

It is recognised that the transition from research innovation to commercialisation is a significant challenge. Queen's University already has an impressive track record of successful spin-out of high technology companies. ECIT will therefore build on this experience and play an important role in economic development by providing hot-housing and incubation facilities to stimulate new company creation. Physically located in one building, new start-ups will be close to the relevant research groups and, with the assistance of ECIT Management, will have access to business and financial expertise in the University, Government Agencies and other relevant sources of business knowledge and development. Experienced research engineers working in state-of-the-art facilities will be available to collaborate with start-ups and established companies who want to develop innovative products and services. ECIT staff will also run a programme of training courses and seminars to ensure companies and staff can develop their skills and knowledge in emerging technologies.

Contact: Dr Godfrey Gaston, Operations Director, ECIT Queen's Road, Belfast BT3 9DT;
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9097 4500; Fax: +44 (0) 28 9097 4787;
E-mail: [email protected] ; Web: www.ecit.qub.ac.uk .