CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and the College of William & Mary are planning a research center to develop the next generation of electronics.

The Virginia Nanoelectronics Center will conduct research to produce faster, smaller and cheaper computer devices for multiple end products, including automobiles and energy-efficient homes.

The center will be affiliated with the UVA’s Institute for Nanoscale and Quantum Scientific and Technological Advanced Research.

The Nanoelectronics Research Initiative, the Virginia Microelectronics Consortium and the three schools will provide initial funding.

CHENGDU, CHINA – An unidentified 20-year-old male Foxconn worker committed suicide by jumping off a building here today, according to local reports.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – Universal Instruments has relocated its European headquarters here.

The new office will provide service and support across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria.                                           

The office will also provide technical support and improved access to the customer order center for the firm’s 16 representatives/distributors and other customers across Europe. In addition, it will feature a demo room to accommodate product demonstrations and training classes.

EL SEGUNDO – The Japan earthquake and tsunami in March had limited impact on semiconductor companies in the first quarter of 2011, as a result of an inventory buildup from the previous five quarters, says IHS iSuppli.