iNEMI Schedules Regional Roadmap Workshops

HERNDON, Va. (March 24, 2008) - The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), an industry-led consortium focused on identifying and closing technology gaps, has scheduled three regional workshops to give industry the opportunity to review "work in progress" on the 2009 Roadmap. The North American workshop is scheduled for May 14 at iNEMI headquarters in Herndon, Virginia (USA). The European workshop will be held on June 18 at IMEC (Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum vzw) in Leuven, Belgium; and the Asian workshop is scheduled for July 28 in Shanghai, China. "These workshops give industry an advance look at the roadmap as the various TWGs report on conclusions and projections made to date," said Chuck Richardson, iNEMI director of roadmapping. "At the same time, the TWGs are able to get valuable feedback from industry and to make mid-course corrections, if necessary, thereby improving the final roadmap projections." The workshop registration fee for each workshop is US$300 (the fee is waived for iNEMI members and workshop speakers). This fee covers participation in the workshop, including a continental breakfast and lunch, plus a copy of the 2009 iNEMI Roadmap CD when published in March 2009 (which sells for US$250 in North America and US$325 outside of North America). NORTH AMERICAN WORKSHOP The North American workshop is a full-day meeting, scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 14, and is open to industry, government and academic institutions. (iNEMI membership is not required to participate in the workshop.) The agenda will include presentations from most of the roadmap's Technology Working Groups (TWGs), discussing the drafts of their chapters, which cover specific technology and infrastructure areas. For each roadmap cycle, iNEMI determines which topics will be covered according to what is happening in industry and what changes are expected to have the greatest effect on electronics manufacturing. The 2009 Roadmap covers 22 technology, infrastructure and business process areas. New in this roadmap are sections on solid state illumination, RFID item-level tag and photovoltaics. These topics have been added in response to increased industry interest in the opportunities and technology needs of these potential growth areas. Registration deadline is May 8. For additional information about, or to register for, the North American workshop, go to http://www.inemi.org/cms/calendar/2009_RM_NA_May08.html Further information about the Asian and European workshops will be provided on the iNEMI website as plans are finalized. ABOUT THE iNEMI ROADMAP Since 1994, iNEMI has mapped the future manufacturing technology needs of the global electronics industry in an effort to identify key technology and infrastructure developments needed to ensure the competitiveness of the supply chain over the next decade. The iNEMI roadmap has become recognized as an important tool for defining the "state of the art" in the electronics industry as well as identifying emerging and disruptive technologies. It also helps set priorities for research and development over the next 10 years, and is not only used by industry but also by government funding agencies and university-based research programs. Efforts are organized into Product Emulator Groups (PEGs) and Technology Working Groups (TWGs). The PEGs define the future technology needs of "virtual products" from five areas: 1) automotive, 2) consumer/portable, 3) medical, 4) netcom (network, datacom and telecom) and 5) office/large business systems. Each PEG chapter forecasts future product attributes, including cost and density drivers. The TWGs forecast trends for numerous technology and infrastructure areas and contrast those trends with anticipated product needs. The TWGs predict the evolution of technology and/or business practices, identify gaps and "showstoppers" in existing technology and infrastructure, and develop recommendations for their respective areas. For additional information about the 2009 iNEMI Roadmap, including the regional workshops, go to http://www.inemi.org/cms/roadmapping/2009_Roadmap.html. About iNEMI The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative's mission is to identify and close technology gaps, which includes the development and integration of the electronics industry supply infrastructure. This industry-led consortium is made up of more than 65 manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations and consortia, government agencies and universities. iNEMI roadmaps the needs of the electronics industry, identifies gaps in the technology infrastructure, establishes implementation projects to eliminate these gaps (both business and technical), and stimulates standards activities to speed the introduction of new technologies. The consortium also works with government agencies, universities and other funding agencies to set priorities for future industry needs and R&D initiatives. iNEMI is based in Herndon, Va. (near Washington, D.C.), with regional offices in Shanghai, China and Limerick, Ireland. For additional information about iNEMI, visit http://www.inemi.org. ### ;