Global businesses and the University of Cambridge partner in new electronics research consortium

Citation

(2005), "Global businesses and the University of Cambridge partner in new electronics research consortium", Microelectronics International, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2005.21822aab.003

Global businesses and the University of Cambridge partner in new electronics research consortium

Global businesses and the University of Cambridge partner in new electronics research consortium

Keywords: Electrical engineering, Research and development

Alps Electric Co. Ltd, Dow Corning Corporation and Marconi Corporation plc have today agreed to jointly fund a portfolio of strategic research and development work in electrical engineering at the University of Cambridge.

A new Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics (CAPE) will unite these companies with leading researchers in a unique consortium that will address the supply chain in electronics and enable effective transfer of knowledge.

CAPE benefits immediately from money for fundamental and applied research, worth GBP 7.5 million (USD 13.3 million) over the next 5 years.

Besides building on Cambridge's strong history of electrical engineering, CAPE will provide an interdisciplinary focus for University expertise.

Plate 1 L-R Mr Isao Tanimoto, Senior MD Alps, Prof. Alison Richard, Vice Chancellor, Cambridge University, Mr John Newbold, VP Marconi, Mrs Babette Pettersen, 'Global' Photonics Program Director, Dow Corning

Announcing the Alps Electric Co., Ltd investment before a special ceremony at The University of Cambridge, Alps Senior Managing Director Business Development, HQ General Manager, Isao Tanimoto (Plate 1) said:

• •

  We are delighted to be supporting the work of some of the world's leading researchers at the University of Cambridge and partnering both Dow Corning and Marconi in this enterprise. We have high hopes of enabling the effective transfer to industry of cutting-edge advanced photonics and electronics research

Professor Bill Milne, head of the world-renowned Electrical Engineering Division at the University's Department of Engineering, will lead the Centre. Commenting on the agreement he said:

• •

  We gain the expertise of three global businesses actively involved in the advanced photonics and electronics sector, as well as new money from this strategic partnership. The market focus and supply chain expertise of these companies will enable cutting-edge research to be effectively transferred.

Alps Electric Co., Ltd, Dow Corning and Marconi bring, respectively, optoelectronic components, materials and systems expertise to CAPE. A joint steering group will enable this expertise to be shared to the mutual benefit of commercial and academic partners.

This funding looks forward to the construction of a purpose-built CAPE building on the University's growing science and technology campus at West Cambridge. Construction of the new building is due to begin next month and scheduled for completion in early 2006.

For further information contact: Professor Bill Milne. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 332757; E-mail: wim@eng.cam.ac.uk