Livingston, Scotland, March 27, 2003 Scotland's leading role in the global optoelectronics industry has been given a boost with the announcement of a new £4.2 million ($6.75 million) facility dedicated to the commercialization of research in the growing technology of packaging complex optoelectronic chips.
The new facility, which will be located in Livingston and commence operating in the summer of this year, will specialize in the development of processes to arrange delicate circuitry in the protective packaging that allows optoelectronic devices to interface and connect to external networks via optical fibers and electronic connections.
It will also develop similar solutions that can be transferred to other emerging technologies, such as life sciences in which the biochip will play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of illness and the management of its treatment.
The centre is being developed in conjunction with the industry body, the Scottish Optoelectronics Association, and is designed to assist in bridging the gap between design and manufacturing qualification of optoelectronics-based devices. The centre has funding from both Scottish Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.
Establishing a facility with specialist capability in packaging technologies is critical to the development of a sustainable Scottish optoelectronics industry. It will accelerate the commercialization of university research and help create and support high-growth start-up companies.
The facility will also complement the work of the recently launched Intermediate Technology Institutes that will raise Scotland's international competitiveness by supporting business research and development in key growth sectors of the global economy.
Optical Manufacturing