By the time that Agilent Technologies celebrated its tenth year as Platinum Sponsors of EuMW with the annual Welcome Reception at the Nuremberg Convention Centre, the record for the total number of unique delegates at European Microwave Week 2013 had been surpassed, backing up the unrivalled number of unique exhibiting companies demonstrating their latest innovations on the show floor.

Opening the proceedings, the EMC 2013 Chairman, Lorenz-Peter Schmidt, on behalf of the EuMW 2013 General Chair, Robert Weigel, commented, “I hope you have enjoyed the conference so far as well as the extensive European Microwave Exhibition, which opened today. We acknowledge the response of the industry and this Reception, which is organised by EuMA, Horizon House and Agilent Technologies, recognises and fosters the relationship between industry and research. It is the perfect opportunity for those delegates and exhibitors here to embrace the theme of European Microwave Week 2013 – Meet Experts, Make Friends.”

He then symbolically handed over to the EuMW 2014 General Chairmen, Roberto Sorrentino, with the display of a large cut-out key bearing the 2014 logo that will be handed over in Olympic Flag style at the end of the Week to signify the passing from one organising team to the next.

Sorrentino said, “I would like to congratulate the German team, especially Robert Weigel, for the extraordinary success of this event which has broken all previous records. This is quite an achievement.”

He introduced the team that would work with him on the event in Rome, highlighted the intention to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Maxwell Equations, the evolution of the Defence, Security & Space Forum, which is included in the Call for Papers for the first time, and efforts to deliver a 7,000 m²-plus exhibition.

He finished by inviting everyone to join him in the Eternal City in 2014, before handing over to Agilent EMEA VP and general manager,  Benoit Neel, who commented, “For ten years Agilent has enjoyed being Platinum sponsor of European Microwave Week. It is our pleasure to welcome you to this reception and we look forward to doing so in the coming years.”

As well as looking forward Agilent also paid homage to the development of Hewlett Packard/Agilent test equipment from the HP130A oscilloscope of 1956, the HP 8660C signal generator of 20 years later, through to the PNA vector network analyser that signalled the start of the millennium right up to the latest Fieldfox microwave handheld analyser. These and others in between were on display throughout the reception.

It was a demonstration of the leading instruments that have been the staple diet for engineers for over 50 years, while nutritional sustenance was provided by the wide selection of food that was of a very high standard. And, as has become tradition Agilent demonstrated its generosity with a prize draw.