Semiconductor industry gathers in Scotland

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 4, 2006

The future of innovation and new pervasive technologies shaping European semiconductors will be the key topics for discussion at Semiconductor 2006 in Edinburgh during June.

The future of innovation and new pervasive technologies shaping European semiconductors will be the key topics for discussion when 200 high-level decision makers from the European semiconductor industry meet at Semiconductor 2006 at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh on 7th and 8th June.

Now in its seventh year, Semiconductor 2006 is organised by JEMI UK to address the technological and commercial challenges facing the industry such as advances in miniaturisation, on-chip intelligence, MEMS, embedded software, and the advent of pervasive technologies such as ambient intelligence, which will make the role of semiconductors even bigger and more visible.

The line-up of speakers for the conference includes Pascal Mauberger, Chief Operating Officer of Soitec, the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of SOI wafers for the semiconductor industry; Malcolm Penn, CEO of Future Horizons; and Jean-Christophe Eloy, General Manager, Yole Developpement, the world leader in market research and strategy consulting for the MEMS and compound semiconductor sectors.

George Pollock from technology facility specialists CH2MHILL IDC and Derek Boyd, Chief Executive of the National Microelectronics Institute, the trade association for Semiconductor manufacturing, design and research in the UK and Ireland, will speak on energy issues, and David Thomson, of Lab 901, the Edinburgh-based life sciences company and winner of the Pfiser Award for Innovation in Life Sciences will give a presentation on lab-on-a-chip platforms for molecular diagnostics and molecular biology.

50 companies will take part in a technology showcase at the conference.

Commenting on its role as main sponsor for the event, Scottish Enterprise noted: "Scotland is a key European centre for innovation in the semiconductor industry, with a strong academic and industrial base".

"Semiconductor 2K is perfectly positioned to showcase Scotland's capabilities (in this industry) and we are delighted to be working with JEMI UK to ensure its continued success as a core event in the European industry calendar".

Mike Smyth, Chairman of Semiconductor 2K, added: "European semiconductor companies have put Eur 30 billion into production and research facilities in Europe in the last year but we need to narrow the gap between industry's spending and public investment to confirm Europe's status as a winner in the high technology stakes".

"Semiconductor 2006 will be discussing the commercial and technological challenges ahead and we are delighted to have such an excellent line-up of speakers for this year's forum".