Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Innos
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 15 September 2004
Skills shortage threatens semiconductor
growth
Innos has voiced serious concerns on the future supply of key skills in the UK within a warning issued on the eve of the 2004-05 academic year.
Innos, the UK's leading research and development company delivering expertise in silicon, MEMS and nanotechnologies, has voiced serious concerns on the future supply of key skills in the UK within a warning issued on the eve of the 2004-05 academic year The company is highlighting how the decline of new, skilled chemistry graduates and materials scientists will put the UK at serious risk of losing its ability to be competitive in the worldwide semiconductor market
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 1 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Along with declines in many science/engineering subjects there has been a significant reduction in the number of chemistry graduates and materials scientists coming out of UK universities, with the latest figures from UCAS placing chemistry at bottom of the popularity stakes for the 2003 intake.
In parallel with this decline, other industries have grown and 2004 graduates now have many options open to them within other sectors, which have been actively courting them in recent years.
"There are many companies in the US and Asia who recognise the quality of the skills possessed by UK graduates, and are fishing in our pond", explains CEO at Innos, Steve Byars.
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"These organisations will step up their recruitment drives and will continue to try and leverage the best out of the UK, at great expense to our market", he warns.
Although there has been a temporary dip in demand for skills in recent years with the spread of standard processes demand is now expected to rise as a new generation of processes is developed.
Many semiconductor manufacturing companies have adopted standard processes and industry standardised materials, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of hands-on process engineering that has been done in the UK, with a dramatic reduction in the amount of materials research done, since the original vendors have done most of the R and D.
In contrast, 15-plus years ago many companies in the sector would have employed a significant number of graduate engineers and chemists to work on materials development, whereas today's graduates' main function has been to handle incoming inspection and take on a semi-QA role.
"But now that technology has progressed it is clear that the next wave of processes and capability requires significant materials development".
"This has resulted in a vital wake up call that companies need to start re-staffing these functions within their organisation".
"However, the skills they need to facilitate this are now in short supply", comments Byars.
The alternative is to look for collaborative research capabilities such as those delivered by Innos.
As many of Innos' processes are nonstandard it was recognised early on that there would be a need for materials scientists.
Byars continues: "Through our strong relationships with many UK academic institutions, we are in the fortunate position of being able to provide expertise that offers great skills in the research and development of silicon-based technology".
"The semiconductor sector needs to actively promote itself".
"Yet this has been difficult given the downturn in the industry over the last few years, and it still cannot seem to attract the high calibre graduates it demands".
For quite some time the sector has been lobbying the Government regarding the issue of supply and demand.
The Government's forthcoming ten-year investment framework for science and innovation aims to encourage student to study mathematics, chemistry and physics at A-level, but it will be some time before industry reaps the benefits of this programme.
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