Microelectronics
Within the ICT sector, which is recognised in
the Regional Economic Strategy as a priority, the most significant
and highest added value segment is the microelectronics cluster.
This encompasses wireless communication, silicon design and
integrated circuit board design.
Business
In the region we have businesses operating in
all parts of the microelectronics sector apart from fabrication,
encompassing wireless communication, silicon design and integrated
circuit board design. Indeed, the South West is home to the largest
microelectronics cluster in Europe, employing some 5000 people in
around 100 companies. This concentration of knowledge and
experience is of major global significance and is exceeded only in
Silicon Valley.
The region is home to hugely successful
indigenous businesses and spin-outs such as Xmos, Icera and
picoChip as well as proving to be a magnet for global players,
including HP, ST microelectronics, Toshiba and Siemens, drawn here
by the high calibre workforce and the access to research
excellence. This means that the South West is effectively the
‘Silicon Valley’ of Europe, and work is currently underway to
establish a silicon design centre, to be established at SPark, the
£300 million science park that will be located in Bristol.
Regional Expertise
The region's significant research and
development capabilities, skills availability, illustrious
academic knowledge transfer and effective networking opportunities
underpin a dynamic sector.
Whether your business needs expertise in wireless communications or
optoelectronics, new employees with expertise in human computer
interaction or training in information storage, the universities in
South West England can provide hi-tech solutions and world class
expertise across a range of microelectronics and ICT areas.