HERNDON, VA —The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI.org) will host an Innovation Leadership Forum intended to stimulate innovation and manufacturing research for the electronics industry.

Held in Herndon on Sept. 15-16, the objective is help focus limited R&D resources to ensure development of the innovative technologies required to maintain the growth of the electronics industry over the next decade.

“The rapid globalization of high-tech innovation and manufacturing has caused several notable industry leaders to express serious concerns about the future competitiveness of our industrial infrastructure,” said Bob Pfahl, vice president of iNEMI.

“It is widely accepted that sustained growth of our industry requires development of disruptive technologies, innovative products and advanced manufacturing processes. However, industrial research has consistently downsized over the past decade…It is critical that we aggressively encourage academic and institutional R&D centers to focus on innovation to meet technology needs and identified R&D gaps.”

Those attending the forum will discuss innovation challenges, technology roadmaps for emerging sectors, product development and manufacturing strategies, educational issues, R&D priorities, recommendations and potential funding mechanisms.

National Semiconductor’s chairman and CEO, Brian Halla, will open the event with a discussion of innovation challenges facing the U.S. high-tech industry. Other participants include Delphi Electronics; IBM’s Systems and Technology Group; Intel’s Corporate Technology Group; Motorola; Prismark Partners; Wipro; ASTRA; Purdue University; the National Nanotechnology Initiative; DuPont; and NanoDynamics Inc..

Organizers are targeting technology executives of major electronics OEMs, chief executives and technologists of emerging high-tech firms and government labs, policymakers in government agencies, venture capital leaders and university-based researchers. Also targeted are product/market/business strategists, especially in emerging markets (medical devices, sensors, RFID and SiP) and key future markets (biotechnology, nanotechnology, MEMs, alternative and renewable energy). 

Attendance is by invitation and will be restricted to 150 participants. For details, visit inemi.org/cms/calendar/iNEMI_innovation_forum.html. Those interested in attending should contact Pfahl: bob.pfahl@inemi.org.

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