Microwave engineering in the UK. education, innovation and the HPRF Faraday partnership

The UK has recognised that, although microwave engineering remains of national importance, the skill base has been declining for several years. To address this problem the UK established, in late 2001, a coordinated research, development and educational programme in high power vacuum electronics through the government supported Faraday partnership programme, The partnership, which is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, (DTI) the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has the following remit. To develop an effective research, development and manufacturing base capable of exploiting opportunities in high power radio-frequency engineering, wherever they occur, in a manner that is internationally competitive and adds to the national wealth.