The National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI, Herndon, VA), an industry-led consortium focused on strengthening the global electronics manufacturing supply chain, has published a research priorities document intended to serve as a resource to all who are tasked with directing R&D (both funding and execution) for the electronics manufacturing industry.

"It is only through effective prioritization of limited R&D programs that the North American electronics industry will maintain the technology leadership that it has enjoyed for the past 50 years," said Robert C. Pfahl Jr., vice president of operations for NEMI. "The 2003 NEMI Research Priorities document has been prepared to aid in this process, facilitating more focused investments and an improved rate of return. With a steady stream of research results to harvest, the electronics industry can continue to enjoy growth and prosperity driven by our society's adoption of breakthrough products that increase productivity and improve lifestyles."

The 2003 NEMI Research Priorities, completed at the end of 2003, presents the consensus on R&D needs identified in the 2002 NEMI Roadmap. This document is part of a planning methodology NEMI has established to ensure that its members focus on high-impact areas where they can make a difference in the marketplace. This process involves five basic steps: 

1. Create industry roadmaps by drawing on the expertise of a broad cross section of individuals from industry, academia and government.
2. Identify the major areas on which NEMI will focus, based on need, participation and ability to make a business impact.
3. Conduct gap analyses on the areas identified to determine where industry needs fall short of capabilities and also to identify those areas where meaningful opportunities exist for industry.
4. Create the five-year NEMI technical plan, which identifies the projects and activities necessary to close the identified gaps. (These plans become the basis for the formation of NEMI projects.)
5. Prioritize research needs identified by the NEMI roadmap and gap analysis activities, creating the NEMI research priorities document, which is distributed to members and key funding agencies, universities and industry.

"In the past, we have developed a technical plan for our own organization, and we have informally shared information with universities and funding agencies about key areas identified for R&D work," said Pfahl. "This is the first time we have formalized the process and documented research priorities for universities and funding agencies."

The document organizes the R&D needs identified by the roadmap into five categories: 1) manufacturing processes; 2) systems integration; 3) energy; 4) materials and 5) design. Highlights of top priorities identified for each of these areas are as follow:

• Manufacturing processes: more cost-effective electrical test methods; more flexible assembly equipment for low-volume, high-mix, high yield board products, including data-driven solder deposition methods.
• Systems integration: Interoperability standards for matching of vendor/supplier hardware for increased competition; improved data transport standards to support data protocols.
• Energy: Lower voltage components and assemblies; higher energy density/specific energy power supplies, batteries and fuel cells.
• Materials: Substrate materials with improved dimensional stability, planarity, low moisture absorption and warpage; improved interfacial adhesion and strength between copper/low k and wire bonds, bumps and underfill.
• Design: Improved design tools for optoelectronics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and other emerging technologies; integrated design and simulation tools needed for mixed mode wireless chips and modules.

A final section on disruptive technologies examines how newly discovered phenomena may be exploited to provide innovative technology solutions for identified needs. In particular, this section describes possible future areas for exploiting nanotechnology to create innovative new products.

The document may be downloaded at www.nemi.org.