Strategic Technical Platform
Empower your skills for future technologies
Transforming Research into Reality
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MUSCAT connects the research technical community, world-class facilities and industry to accelerate research and innovation across the UK.
Led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the EPSRC, we focus on microwave and antenna technologies and RF characterisation.
Research Technical Professionals
Develop your skills, access specialist resources and connect with peers across the UK.
Students
Gain practical, hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and build your future career.
Academics
Strengthen your research with technical expertise and access to state-of-the-art facilities.
Industry
Collaborate with our researchers and technical teams to innovate and accelerate impact.
Long-term impact
Building a Future-Proof Foundation
The MUSCAT project is designed with sustainability and long-term impact at its core.
Our holistic approach, combining education, innovation and industry collaboration, ensures that impact will be felt for years to come.
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Facilities
Search Facilities
Looking for specific equipment or expertise? Search UK university facilities, our own website or the wider web. Results open in Google in a new tab.
Why MUSCAT matters
A Growing Market, a Growing Skills Gap
Demand for antennas, RF systems and the facilities that test them is rising fast, but the UK doesn’t have enough skilled technicians and engineers to design, test and maintain them. MUSCAT exists to help close that gap.
UK antenna test systems & OTA chambers
Projected to roughly double by 2035, growing 8–10% a year
Source: IndexBox
75%
of telecommunications engineer vacancies in England are hard to fill because applicants lack the skills needed. Source: Skills England, 2025
60%
of UK telecoms engineers are over 50, with an estimated 30,000-person engineering shortfall expected over the next ten years. Source: Digital Connectivity Forum, 2026
All levels
A critical shortage of RF and microwave skills, from apprentices and technicians to senior engineers, with many technician roles lacking suitable training pathways. Source: Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, 2025
Market figures are independent research estimates. Skills figures come from government and industry reports.
What can you expect?
We bring together research technical professionals (RTPs) and research software engineers (RSEs) from across the UK to share knowledge, develop skills and tackle the growing demand for expertise in:
RF characterisation
Wireless communications
Signal processing
Electromagnetic theory
What we offer
How MUSCAT Supports You
Training, facilities, community and industry links, all in one place.
Learning & Training
Structured, expert-led learning for every stage of your technical career.
- Courses & workshops
- Hands-on lab training
- Certification opportunities
- Conference & publication support
Facilities
Access to Queen Mary’s state-of-the-art Antenna Measurement Lab and our partner labs.
- Antenna Measurement Lab
- Partner labs network
- Specialist equipment
- Expert technical support
Community
Connect, share knowledge and grow together across the RTP network.
- RTP & RSE network
- Mentoring
- Events & seminars
- Research collaboration
Industry Collaboration
Partner with us to drive innovation and turn research into real-world solutions.
- Secondments
- Tailored hands-on training
- Onsite seminars
- Sponsorship
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Advancing technical excellence, collaboration and innovation across the UK research ecosystem.
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Get in touch
Antennas & EM LabQueen Mary University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Support & info
Supported by
FunderUK Research and Innovation
Research councilEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council