Editorial

Citation

(2004), "Editorial", Microelectronics International, Vol. 21 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2004.21821aaa.001

Editorial

It is with great pleasure that I am able to report that Microelectronics International is now a listed journal on the International Science Index (ISI). This excellent news means that your publications will attract even more kudos for appearing in the journal and score higher in those all important measures of performance, such as peer reviews, that we are all constantly being subjected to these days. ISI listing is widely recognised as one of the most important features of quality journals and the listing of this journal reflects not only its high standing, but also the hard work and endeavour of all those associated in attaining it. My particular thanks and congratulations go out to Sharon Parkinson (Managing Editor) and her colleagues at Emerald.

The ISI listing means that not only is Microelectronics International the best place to find out about leading edge research in your industry sector, but it is also demonstrably the place to publish your own results for the widest dissemination among your peers. This is brought particularly into focus when looking at the geographical distribution of the readership, both classic subscription and electronic access via Web site "hits". The trend is clear that MIs readership is increasing rapidly in the Far East whilst at the same time it is decreasing in the West. The same trend is apparent in the contributions to the journal with an increasing proportion of the authorship being of Far Eastern origin. This will come as no surprise to many as it simply reflects the shift in electronics manufacture away from Europe and North America towards the Far East.

I have attended several events lately where this phenomenon has been debated at length. Indeed the media is full of the resurgence of technology in countries such as China and India. However, the statistics do not really do justice to the pace of development and it takes a first-hand visit to even begin to appreciate fully the extent to which these countries are gearing up to take on the role of the world's manufacturing base. Having recently returned from a visit to Shanghai to attend the 5th International Conference on Electronic Packaging Technology, I can only say that I was stunned at the rate of progress being made by the Chinese electronics industry.

A common theme at some recent events in Europe and North America where the demise of electronics manufacturing has been discussed has been the debate about what new technologies, or the so-called "killer applications", could rekindle the industry. It is tempting to say that this rekindling will never in fact occur, based purely on the observation that virtually every new application to be developed these days is immediately taken out to the Far East for manufacture as soon as the volumes permit. Far from being a pessimistic view of things I prefer to view it for what it really is, the true globalisation of our industry. We just need to get used to it I guess. Designed in Europe, made in China, sold in the USA? No, just designed, made and consumed in the world!