European Microelectronics
Moving On....
We should all agree that we have to stop thinking back on the good days in year 2000 when everything was possible and the industry saw no end to the explosive growth.
We have learned that we have to prepare for more difficult times due to the cyclic changes in the economy. And we also know — or should know — that the better prepared we are, the better our chances are to survive hard times and the faster we will re-gain momentum and capture new business.
I have always admired the way they do it in Finland with targeted research in expected future new disciplines requested by the National industry.
Several large Finnish national programmes have been the foundation for world-famous Finnish companies. Together with the Universities, Research organisations, service providers and OEMs, a range of projects has over the years been defined in order to establish or strengthen the complete supply chain for the industry — an industry obviously dominated by Nokia.
The programmes are partly supported by the industry and partly by the taxpayers via TEKES, the National Technology Agency. The largest programme so far, “Electronics for the Information Society,” ETX, has just finished by the end of 2001.
The ETX programme aimed at enhancing technological competitiveness, creating new businesses and developing new information technology in the service of industry, commerce and employment, thus making Finland known as the home of high technology. The programme embraced 194 projects, the total volume amounted to 154 million euros. Slightly less than half of the volume was Tekes funding for the projects. Of the total volume, 55 million euros was used in the research projects coordinated by research organisations and 99 million euros in the product development projects coordinated by companies. Altogether, 233 companies and 76 universities, university departments or units, research institutes, etc. took part in the projects. The programme projects were organised into 11 thematic groups: Systems and Software, Broadband Electronics, ASIC Design, Modern RF Electronics, Power Electronics, Mechanics of Electronics, Materials for Electronics, Competitive Production, Total Reliability of Electronics Systems, Environmentally Recommendable Practices and Services for Electronics Industry.
Several new products were launched in the market and a few totally new companies were started as a result of the cooperation in the ETX programme projects. One example is Imbera Electronics, a joint venture between Aspocomp Group Oyj and Elcoteq Network Corporation. The new company will commercialise the IMB (Integrated Module Board) technology originally developed at Helsinki University for integrating active compo- nents inside the printed wiring board (PWB) structure. More details can be found in the European Activities, Nordic Chapter, Business News section.
More insight in this impressive Tekes programme can be found at their homepage www.tekes.fi, where the complete report can be downloaded. The ETX report is a must for potential suppliers to the Finnish companies and you will learn where future activities will be focused.
Unfortunately not all countries have the visions and dedication as seen in Finland. But as I assume most of you will agree that this is a good way to spend taxpayer (your) money, and seeing the positive results when industry and academia work hand in hand — we should try to make this known in our own country and push where we can to adapt a similar or tailored model as soon as possible.
IMAPS conferences can be a body supporting the steps in the right direction by helping in disseminating the results and cover the needs by bringing in frontrunners from the universities and research organisations together with the leading high tech suppliers.
Søren Nørlyng
noerlyng@micronsult.dk
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