A market-watch session during the MicroTech 2003 event Imaps-UK (International Microelectronics and Packaging Society) concerning the shift of electronics production to the Far East concluded that with intelligent selection of markets and technology, companies in the UK could still be competitive. There was no doubt that China was a leading force in global electronic markets importing some 37bn semiconductors a year with one manufacturer alone making 350,000 mother boards per week. The country now produces 29 % of the world´s color televisions and 75 % of clocks and watches. It also has its own huge domestic market – for example, 380m mobile phone subscribers are anticipated by 2005.
The delegates felt that UK companies should therefore apply themselves to niche markets where their traditional skills are best suited. Some of the applications include radio-frequency MEMs for mobile communication, fuel cells, RF ID tags, tire-pressure sensors and drug delivery systems. Some deficiencies in the UK were also highlighted such as global marketing experience and broad based technology skills, not to mention investors’ and government´s lack of forward vision.
EPP EUROPE 406
Share:
