e2v Centre for Electronic Imaging Opened at Milton Keynes Campus of Open University

On Monday 16th November 2009 over 80 top level representatives from the academic and business communities gathered at The Open University’s Milton Keynes campus to celebrate the opening of the e2v centre for electronic imaging (CEI).

The group listened to keynote speakers including Mr Martin Ditter, Head of ESA Harwell Centre and Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Chairman of SSTL, cover topics including space science, the e2v CEI and knowledge exchange between academia and industry.

Now based at the University’s Milton Keynes campus, the e2v CEI is a collaboration between The Open University and e2v, a leading developer and manufacturer of specialised components and sub-systems.  The centre is dedicated to the research and development of advanced technologies for electronic image sensing and provides knowledge exchange between the UK technology industry and the academic world. The collaboration will see The Open University and e2v investing £3m in the UK knowledge economy over five years in new research activity through the e2v CEI.  The collaboration underlines the commitment of e2v to the continuing support of the professional markets for very high performance image sensor technology for the worlds most demanding applications.

Dr. Trevor Cross, Group Chief Technology Officer for e2v said, ‘We are excited to be working with the Open University and Professor Holland, strengthening and evolving the e2v CEI. The CEI helps e2v deliver world class innovation in imaging technology for Space science missions such as XMM, Envisat and GAIA for ESA, and the Hubble Space Telescope for NASA.  As the CEI team grows we hope to include imaging research outside the current space focus”. Adding “we have been very impressed by the research base at the OU and look forward to a long relationship here"

Professor Holland, Director of the e2v CEI added, ‘”This leading academic centre really benefits from association with an acknowledged world class imaging business like e2v through access to latest new product technologies and facilities.  We are particularly pleased that research student numbers are increasing and we can announce that we are now recruiting for a further two 5-year research Fellowships to start early in 2010 to expand the core capabilities of the research centre.”