NEWSLETTER APRIL 2001

Competitiveness of European microelectronics - The road ahead

After nearly four months of MEDEA+, the new chairman, Jean-Pierre Noblanc, discusses the road ahead for the organisation. This includes the strengthening of relationships between semiconductor companies and system integrators. Also, the ongoing role of MEDEA+ as a catalyst for the European microelectronics industry as it addresses the challenges of emerging technologies, such as multimedia and mobile Internet.

The mission of the MEDEA+ programme, which started at the beginning of 2001, is to encourage and work with European semiconductor companies, systems level integrators and research facilities to leverage Europe as a leader in System Innovation on Silicon for the e-economy. "This includes the development of enabling technologies and new architectures for the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and encouraging relationships between those parties involved," commented Mr. Noblanc, "The merits and importance of a carefully formulated strategy agreed between MEDEA+ and its partners must also not be overlooked."

An indicator of the importance of the MEDEA+ programme in Europe and a guide to the future, in terms of next generation technologies, is the 'International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors' (ITRS). This study details the main 'road-blocks'and the dramatic acceleration in technology that the MEDEA+ programme will have to address. Indeed, there is no doubt that MEDEA+ projects will enable complex applications and devices, such as full Systems-on-chip and Terabit memory chips.

"It is important to understand how MEDEA+ fits into the tradition of microelectronics development and working practices in Europe," noted Mr. Noblanc. The forerunner of MEDEA and MEDEA+ was JESSI, a programme that concentrated on deeper co-operation between European semiconductor companies to close the gap in technology. MEDEA, which finished at the end of 2000, progressed further down this road by strengthening the global competitiveness of the European microelectronics industry through R&D co-operation along the supply chain. This was largely achieved by increasing the participation of systems houses.

MEDEA+ will encourage even closer relationships between Europe's system integrators, semiconductor companies and research institutes in projects that will accelerate innovation in enabling technologies and in focused applications. This is especially important for markets in which Europe has a leading role, such as digital consumer, high-speed communications and automotive.

Facilitating this requires a considerable amount of expertise and drive from a diversity of different partners along the microelectronics value chain. The participants must also succeed in agreeing on the inevitable transfer of 'added value' IP and knowledge from one to the other. This can often be a complex process. Part of the role of MEDEA+ is to help partners with this process.

It is important to note though that in a similar way to the MEDEA programme, the role of MEDEA+ is that of an enabler for joint initiatives, encouraging partners' willingness to co-operate. MEDEA+ as a 'catalyst' can and will stimulate the European microelectronics industry, as project partners' determination and commitment to the programme will improve their own competitiveness.