Description

STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) is one of the seven UK Research Councils reporting to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. STFC funds research, operates several world-class establishments, manages the UK's subscription to many international scientific collaborations, and aids advances in science and technology by providing the research community with access to advanced facilities and the expertise of its staff. STFC employs approximately 1900 staff across its UK establishments, most of whom are professionally qualified scientists and engineers.

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is one of the STFC establishments within the UK and is also one of Europe's largest multi-disciplinary research organisations. The Laboratory is home to a number of the UK's major scientific research facilities and has a global reputation for excellence in many areas of science and advanced engineering technology.

The Microelectronics Support Centre (MSC) located at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in design methodologies and flows for microelectronic, microsystem and electronic system design. The MSC specialises in providing academic institutions from the UK and Europe with the design tools, design flows, training and support that they require to enhance their microelectronic, microsystem and electronic system design research and teaching. This essential role enables the universities to conduct industry relevant research, and to train the highly capable engineers which form the lifeblood of the UK electronic system design industry.