| Huge growth seen for MEMS sensors, actuators |
Source: John Walko, EEtimes, March 27 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.eu/design |
Worldwide sales of MEMS-based semiconductor sensors and actuators are expected to increase
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19 percent between 2007 and 2012, reaching $9.7
billion in five years compared to $4.1 billion in 2007, according to market research group IC
Insights. |
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| In-Stat reduces chip market growth forecast to 2.4% |
| Source: Peter Clarke, EETimes, March 27 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.eu/ |
Market research firm In-Stat (Scottsdale, Ariz.) said the 2008 semiconductor market would grow
by 2.4 percent to $261.9 billion due to softening demand. The consumer segment is set to grow
at 5.9 percent. The computer segment, whose share has been trending downward since 2000, is
expected to remain the largest segment by a wide margin, although, by 2012, its share is
forecast to be 41.8 percent, well below the levels of the 1990s when computer applications
were responsible for more than half of chip sales. |
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| Qualcomm to improve edu tools & resources in Vietnam |
| Source: EETimes, March 28 2008 |
| http://www.eetindia.co.in |
|
Qualcomm Inc. is working to improve access to education tools and resources through the
provision of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO wireless broadband services at the Community Technology and
Learning Center (CTLC) in Dong Anh, Vietnam. |
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| Solar Semiconductor bags $575-m order from Germany firm |
| Source: The Hindu Business Line, March 28 2008 |
| http://www.thehindubusinessline.com |
Solar Semiconductor, a photovoltaic (PV) module maker has bagged a $575- million (about Rs
2,300 crore) order from IBC Solar, Germany. The two companies have announced a strategic
partnership, which entails Solar Semiconductor to supply high quality, PV modules over the
next three years. |
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| Tough times to continue for RF IC suppliers |
|
Source: John Walko, EETimes, March 28 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.eu |
Profits are going to be hard to come by for RF chip makers over the next year, just as they
have been for the past two years, according to market research group Strategy Analytics.
A report from the company that scrutinizes the collective financial performance of nearly 50
suppliers of radio components for wireless applications attributes the slow decline in profits to
maturing wireless markets, increasing component complexity and more rapid commoditization
at the low end. |
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| India's people power is also its problem |
| Source: Rick Merritt, EETimes, March 28 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
One of India's biggest challenges is managing its biggest strength: its deep well of young and
talented people. Salaries are on the rise for a workforce on the move, making recruitment and
training an ongoing issue for India's low-cost service companies. But the people problem is far
from the only issue. At home, battles over inadequate infrastructure dog progress. Overseas,
India faces pushback from countries such as the U.S. worried about the loss of domestic jobs to
Asia. And India may face a looming crisis in intellectual property. |
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| Intersil inaugurates new design center in Hyderabad |
| Source: EETimes, March 31 2008 |
| http://www.eetindia.co.in |
|
I
ntersil Corporation has announced the grand opening of a new design center location in
Hyderabad , India . The new office is staffed with experienced analog and mixed signal
designers and will augment ongoing product development efforts at the Bangalore design
center. The addition of the Hyderabad facility continues Intersil's expanding presence in the
Asia-Pacific region. |
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| India favourite destination for Canadian companies |
| Source: NDTV, March 31 2008 |
| http://www.ibef.org |
|
The fast-growing economy of India is increasingly making it a favourable destination for
investment by the Canadian companies, a senior government official has said. Delivering a talk
on "Indias Challenges and Promises", R L Narayan, the High Commissioner of India to Canada
said the nation's strength was its strong democratic institutions, and unity in diversity. |
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| India unveils more incentives for solar power |
| Source: K.C. Krishnadas, EETimes, March 31 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
India's renewable energy ministry has announced a new program designed to expand solar
power generating projects up to a maximum capacity of 50 megawatts. Solar developers who
build, own and operate projects will be supported with financial incentives of about 30 cents
for each kilowatt of solar power generated per hour. Incentives for thermal power fed to power
grids would be slightly less, according to a government statement. |
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| China, India to Join Global R&D Majors |
| Source: Naoki Asakawa, Mayuko Uno & Yasushi Uchida Nikkei Electronics Asia, April 2008 |
| http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp |
|
It is possible that in the future China and India may become centers for technological
development surpassing Japan, creating a four-pole development stance together with current
leaders, Europe and the US. |
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| Renesas Expands Design Capabilities in India |
| Source: Kishan Chand Lohiya, Nikkei Electronics Asia -- April 2008 |
| http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp |
|
Renesas Technology of Japan, a leader in microcontrollers and system solutions for the
automotive, digital appliance, and mobile segments, is planning to step up its engagement in
India, especially in design and engineering. Yoshinori Matsuo, managing director, Renesas
Technology Singapore Pte Ltd, which also oversees the company's operation in India, explains
to Nikkei Electronics Asia its strategies for this rapidly growing market for electronics. |
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| Inventories down amid soft IC demand |
| Source: Mark LaPedus, EETimes, April 1 2 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Good news: Chip inventories are down. Bad news: There is still more trouble ahead for IC
makers. Excess semiconductor inventory is projected to decline to $2.9 billion by the end of
the first quarter, down 14.6 percent from a revised $3.4 billion level in the fourth quarter of
2007, according to a preliminary forecast from iSuppli Corp. (El Segundo, Calif.) |
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| Image gallery: The rise of India's design industry |
| Source: EETimes, April 1 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
India aspires to be the next big hub of electronics design, courting the emerging business in
what it calls "outsourced R&D." EE Times editor-at-large Rick Merritt spent a week touring
locations in Bengaluru and Delhi to explore how this new business is emerging. He met with
executives of top companies like Wipro and Tata. |
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| Intel tops Gartner's 2007 chip rankings |
| Source: EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetasia.com/ |
|
Who were the winners—and losers—in the top-10 rankings for 2007?
Winners: Intel, Toshiba, Hynix
Losers: TI, Infineon, AMD, NXP
Worldwide semiconductor sales hit $273.9 billion in 2007, a 3.8-percent increase from 2006,
according to final results from Gartner Inc. Vendor performances were mixed with three
vendors in the top 10 achieving double-digit growth and four vendors showing declines in
revenue, according to the firm. |
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| TI, IIT-Kgp in medical tech pact |
| Source: Business Standard, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.business-standard.com |
|
Texas Instruments (TI), the global information technology company, has signed a four-year
collaborative agreement with the School of Medical Science and Technology of Indian Institute
of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), to develop semiconductor technologies that will help
improve the quality, comfort and accessibility of healthcare in India. |
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| Companies making a beeline for solar energy plants |
| Source: The Hindu Business Line, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.ibef.org |
|
Enthused by the potential market for solar energy which is projected to grow to $70-100 billion
up from $15 billion in 2007, more domestic firms have begun to foray into this segment. With
the Central Government also exploring the possibilities of developing solar cities and also grid
solar power generation, possibly with sops, more companies may enter the fray. The Centre
has allocated Rs 600 crore for R&D in this segment during the XI Plan. |
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| Texas Instruments eyes Indian entertainment industry |
| Source: Business Standard, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.ibef.org |
|
With hundreds of theatre screens coming up across India in 2009, Texas Instruments (TI) - a
leading semiconductor technology company — is eyeing the Indian cinema market with its
digital light processing (DLP) technology. TI has patented the DLP technology. In DLP
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projectors, the image is created by small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip
known as a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). |
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| Romania shapes up as IC design site |
| Source: Drew Wilson, EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
eSilicon Corp inherited through a 2004 acquisition a Romanian IC design team that is now
providing substantial operational advantages as the country develops into a design site.
eSilicon Corp (Sunnyvale, CA) inherited an 8-person design team in Bucharest, Romania through
the 2004 acquisition of Sycon Design, a Silicon Valley firm. Today the Romanian operation
employs 25, is doing core product design and has brought substantial operational cost
advantages to eSilicon. |
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| Patents granted in India double from previous year |
| Source: K.C. Krishnadas, EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Concerned by the fact that India lags far behind the world average in patent filings per
population, the Indian government today (April 2) pointed to an upswing in the number of
patents granted since the launch of a major effort to modernize the patent process here.
The Indian Patent Office granted a record 15,262 patents during 2007-08, the government said,
more than double the 7,539 granted the previous year (2006-07) and nearly eight times more
than the 1,911 patents granted three years ago, in 2004-05. Historically, the total number of
patent filings by residents of India is just three per million population, against a world average
of 250. |
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| PMC-Sierra names president, CEO |
| Source: Mark LaPedus, EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Amid a string of losses, PMC-Sierra Inc. said that Greg Lang has been appointed as the
company's president and chief executive. The position will become effective upon the
resignation of Robert Bailey as the company's president and chief executive, which will be on
or before May 9. Bailey, who recently announced his retirement as CEO, will continue as PMCSierra's
chairman. |
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| India's Videocon angling to buy Moto's handset business |
| Source: K.C. Krishnadas, EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Indian consumer electronics giant Videocon appears eager to buy Motorola Inc.'s loss-ridden
handset business, which is being spun off into a separate company. News reports here
Wednesday (April 2) quoted Venugopal Dhoot, chairman of Videocon Industries Ltd., as saying
that "we have hired one of the world's top three investment bankers, who will convey our
interest to buy out the mobile-handset business of the U.S. company." |
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| Engineering 'mindset' doesn't include politics |
| Source: Sheila Riley, EETimes, April 2 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Engineers elsewhere apply their talents to the political sphere, but those in the United States,
unfortunately, don't--and there are no signs the situation will change anytime soon. The
overwhelming majority of American engineers choose industry and business, not government or
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policy, as their rightful place, even as their counterparts around the globe see no conflict
between politics and their profession. |
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| iSuppli acquires PV, MEMS research specialist |
| Source: Peter Clarke, EE Times Europe, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.eetasia.com |
|
iSuppli Corp. has acquired German photovoltaic, MEMS and nanotechnology market research
firm Wicht Technologie Consulting (WTC). Financial details were undisclosed. The acquisition
allows iSuppli to begin offering services based around technical and market developments in
photovoltaic materials, solar cell and module production and PV |
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| 'India will learn to manufacture faster' |
| Source: Business Standard, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.ibef.org |
|
India will learn to manufacture faster than China as global corporations as well as local
companies are showing interest in producing goods locally, according to a research report
released by Centre for Knowledge Societies (CKS), a Bangalore-based innovation consulting
company. |
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| EDA sales in Europe on the rise |
| Source: Colin Holland, EETimes, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.eu |
|
Electronic design automation (EDA) industry revenue for Q4 2007 in Europe was up 9.8 percent
in compared to Q4 2006, with revenues of $316.9 million according to the latest figures from
The EDA Consortium Market Statistics Service (MSS). |
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| Global EMS Top 10 |
| Source: evertiq, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.evertiq.com |
|
Manufacturing Market Insider (MMI), a newsletter specializing in the EMS (electronics
manufacturing services) industry, has released its annual Top 50 list of the world's largest EMS
providers. For the fourth straight year, Top 50 growth exceeded 15% with a 2007 increase of
16.7%. Top 50 sales in 2007 totalled $141.3 billion, a new high. Below is the Top 10 of the list
in order. A top-ten ranking required $1.98 billion in revenue.
1. Hon Hai (Foxconn)
2. Flextronics
3. Jabil Circuit
4. Sanmina-SCI
5. Celestica
6. Elcoteq
7. Kinpo Electronics/Cal-Comp Electronics
8. Benchmark Electronics
9. Venture
10. USI (Universal Scientific Industrial) |
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| Analysis: Candidates for memory consolidation remain unclear |
| Source: Bolaji Ojo, EETimes, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Everyone seems to agree the memory IC market needs another round of consolidation, but so
far none of the leading suppliers are showing any signs of exiting the sector despite spiraling
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losses and increasingly negative cash flows. Analysts and industry executives have recently
warmed up to the idea that the severe oversupply and sharp price erosions that have
devastated the sector would gradually ease if one or more major DRAM, NAND and NOR
semiconductor suppliers abandoned the market. |
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| Indian chip policy nets $16 billion in manufacturing proposals |
| Source: K.C. Krishnadas, EETimes, April 3 2008 |
| http://www.eetimes.com |
|
Electronics and semiconductor manufacturers here are looking to work with the Indian
government to pull together proposals for establishing a chip fab, an LCD plant and solar
manufacturing facilities. The Indian government has so far received seven investment proposals
worth over $16 billion. The proposals come in response to an incentive package for
semiconductor and electronics manufacturing announced last year. Thursday's (April 3)
announcement makes it clear that the biggest IC manufacturing plan announced so far,
SemIndia, has yet to submit a proposal. |
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| Indian firms eye tie-ups to drive business |
| Source: Rick Merritt, EE Times, April 4 2008 |
| http://www.eetasia.com |
|
A number of Indian electronics companies are embracing the philosophy that they must find
partners to help conceive and design new products as quickly as possible. "More and more
people realize innovation is not just done in one company but with a network of companies,"
said Debashis Ghosh, a regional manager who oversees the telecom business for Tata Consulting
Services (TCS), part of the giant Tata conglomerate. "Your best innovation comes when you are
part of a good network," he added. |
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| SanDisk eyes mobile, CE markets in India |
| Source: EETimes, April 4 2008 |
| http://www.eetasia.com |
|
SanDisk Corp. plans to increase market presence and diversify product offerings in India,
addressing the country's growing demand for flash memory cards used in cellphones, digital
cameras and music players. The company also targets new markets such as digital camcorders
and solid state drives (SSDs), which is set to replace HDDs in notebook computers. |
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| Reliance, 5 others commit Rs 65,000 cr for fab units |
| Source: The Economic Times, April 4 2008 |
| http://economictimes.indiatimes.com |
|
Six companies, including Reliance Industries (RIL), Videocon, Moser Baer and Signet Solar, have
committed investments worth Rs 65,000 crore to set up semiconductor and other microtechnology
units in the country. The companies have sought a cumulative capital subsidy of Rs
13,191.16 crore under the semiconductor policy for setting up the units. |
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