• • • NEWS • • •


British economy to outstrip France in the next 15 years


B


ritain’s economy will vastly outstrip that of France in the


next 15 years, according to a landmark report. Booming tech investment and


the economic reforms of the Thatcher era are giving the UK a clear lead over its neighbour and historic rival, according to independent think-tank the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Its latest World Economic League


Table, which looks at the prospects for all 193 countries, forecasts the UK economy will be 16% larger than France’s by 2036. The UK’s is currently estimated to be worth £2.1 trillion, 3.6% larger than France’s. The research will further


strengthen Britain’s case in the battle with France for highly qualified staff.


Douglas McWilliams, deputy


chairman of CEBR, said: ‘Tech is the dynamic factor in economic growth and Britain is investing more in this area than France and Germany put together. “Between half and three-quarters


of UK economic growth has come from the tech sector. By contrast, Germany has a hefty legacy economy, based on car manufacturing and similar.” The UK is the world’s fifth-largest


economy and is estimated to have a gross domestic product of £36,357 per head. The report predicts Britain will


drop to sixth position behind India in 2026, where it is expected to remain until 2036. France, currently the sixth-largest economy, is predicted to fall to seventh position next year and remain there.


Mona Jarrahi awarded top research prize


M


ona Jarrahi, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, has been awarded the 2021 A F


Harvey Engineering Research Prize from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This makes her the first faculty from a US public university to receive the


global organisation’s most valuable prize of £350,000. Ms Jarrahi has made groundbreaking contributions to utilising the


untapped potentials of the electromagnetic spectrum in terahertz, millimeter-wave and microwave ranges for a wide variety of ultrafast sensing, imaging, communication and computing applications. Her research optimises the complementary functions of electronic and


photonic devices to introduce a hybrid methodology for designing systems with operation frequencies beyond traditional transistor technologies. The award will be used to further Ms Jarrahi’s research in developing key


building block components of the next-generation terahertz optoelectronic systems so they can be integrated into one platform. She said: “My team is developing a monolithically integrated terahertz


optoelectronics platform to transform terahertz communication, imaging and sensing systems from expensive, bulky, tabletop setups used in laboratory and industrial settings into scalable, compact and low-cost microchips used in our everyday lives for various applications, such as noninvasive medical diagnostics, ultra-sensitive food, drug-safety screening and high-data-rate communication.” Ms Jarrahi will present her research on March 17, 2022, at a lecture


hosted by the IET, followed by a Q&A session moderated by IET President Sir Julian Young.


Martindale Electric’s updated HPAT range simplifies PAT testing


HPAT400. This new update to its existing range enables both contractors and competent in-house personnel to quickly and safely verify the electrical safety of all types of appliances. Designed to perform safety checks in


T


accordance with the IET Code of Practice, the lightweight HPAT Series of handheld testers are designed for ease of use with one button automatic testing and ultimate portability. The compact design with bright backlit display, provides the perfect solution for testing in all locations, particularly under a desk or behind a monitor, where lighting may be restricted. Suitable for Class I and Class II appliances, the


basic tester incorporates large PASS/FAIL indicators and simple connection instructions on the tester. As well as performing a 500V insulation


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


he HPAT series of portable appliance testers from Martindale Electric now includes the


test, the company’s latest feature now included with the HPAT400 is the ability for users to swap between different test voltages of 250V and 500V. This is especially helpful when testing appliances with surge protected circuits, such as sensitive IT equipment at 250V. For applications which require combining


simple PASS/FAIL with actual test values, the HPAT500 now features a low insulation test voltage, making it suitable for testing surge protected devices. For added convenience, the HPAT500 is mains


rechargeable for reduced running costs and can be operated from the mains via the supplied charger to ensure no down time. Also available in the range is the HPAT600 which


includes both automatic one button testing like the HPAT400 and HPAT500, plus single test selection for diagnostics.


The HPAT600 features a run test for checking


the integrity of the fuse and that the appliance is switched on prior to testing. The pass levels can be easily adjusted for testing appliances with long power cords or long extension leads.


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 7


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