Funding for international research

Researchers from Electrical & Electronic Engineering working on the FP7 MultiWaves project spent considerable time in Scotland and Serbia in 2012, and are expected to do the same in 2013.

 

Stellenbosch University (SU) researchers play key roles in leading international research on global issues. Our university is one of the most successful universities taking part in the South African government’s bilateral science and technology agreements with more than 30 other countries.

 

With the onset of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7), SU researchers have become actively involved in the projects sponsored by the EU, most of them by invitation by leading researchers in Europe.

 

One of the FP7 projects with which the Electrical & Electronic Department is involved, is MultiWaves. Researchers working on this project are concerned with finding solutions to the increasing demands for compact and low-cost wireless systems that operate at multiple frequency bands.

 

According to Prof P Meyer of E&E Engineering, who is currently involved with the MultiWaves project, the funding for 2012 allowed them the equivalent of 15 (wo)man-months’ visits to Scotland and Serbia. In 2013, an additional 30 months’ overseas visits by researchers from SU will be funded.

 

With a grant by the European Union of E90 000, plus around R500 000 from our own Department of Science & Technology, the funding for this project amounts to around R1.5m – offering our local researchers tremendous opportunities to contribute on a global level.

 

For more information on FP7 research collaboration undertaken by SU researchers, see http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/stellenbosch-University/stellenbosch-research-2009/2010051201/35.html#35