HERNDON, VA – The top priority for manufacturing processes continues to be the development of a new methodology/strategy for R&D in today’s global outsourcing environment.
 
For systems integration, the top research need is to develop 3-D interconnect structures with associated thermal management. The top priority for energy is to increase energy efficiency in electronics products. The top research priority for the environment is to develop sound scientific methods to evaluate environmental impacts of materials.
 
Those are the findings of the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, which has published its 2009 Research Priorities identifying the most critical areas on which the electronics industry should focus research and development over the next 10 years. 
 
Development of the research priorities is the final step in the iNEMI roadmapping process. It combines findings from the 2009 iNEMI Roadmap with R&D needs identified through a series of industry gap analysis meetings. The result is a vision of research needs that will help ensure continued competitiveness and innovation for the electronics industry.
 
iNEMI uses the research priorities to identify deployment activities in areas where the consortium can have the greatest impact. The document also serves as a resource for iNEMI members and other corporate research labs; it is distributed to government funding agencies and academic research centers.
 
The 2009 iNEMI Roadmap identified more than 100 research needs, grouped into seven areas: manufacturing processes, systems integration, energy, the environment, materials and reliability, design, and information management. Overall, materials research continues to dominate R&D needs, says iNEMI.
 
For materials, the top priority is to develop the next generation of solder alloys with better area array shock, lower cost, lower temperature and reduced copper dissolution issues. The top priority for design is to create low-cost solutions for carrying >10Gb/s signal rates between components on a PCB.
 
Finally, the top priority for information management is to develop infrastructure to track components through the supply chain to prevent counterfeiting.
 
The 2009 Research Priorities can be downloaded at http://thor.inemi.org/webdownload/RI/2009_Research_Priorities.pdf.

TAMPA, FL – Sypris Electronics has received approximately $5.5 million in follow-on orders to produce electronics assemblies for multiple satellite systems.
 
The firm did not disclose the company that placed the orders.
 
"Sypris continues to expand the scope and capabilities of its space offerings in partnership with prime contractors for commercial and government satellite systems," said John Walsh, president of Sypris Electronics. "Our dedicated NASA-certified space manufacturing operation supports next-generation satellite systems for global communications, connectivity and other endeavors by the US and its allied nations for both commercial and military applications."
 
Sypris Electronics is a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions.

SAN JOSE – MEPTEC has announced the first Semiconductor to Solar: Growth Opportunities for the IC Industry symposium.
 
The event will be held Nov. 19 in San Jose.
 
This conference will focus on the basics of PV-based systems, and specific requirements and nuances the industry faces today. The event will showcase specific applications of ICs into photovoltaic applications that are either essential parts of the PV system or would play a significant role in managing performance of PV systems. 
 
Sessions include photovoltaic industry overview and current trends; enabling technologies; manufacturing challenges and processing for solar photovoltaic, and future trends and opportunities for the IC industry.
 
To register, visit www.meptec.org.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) today reported August revenues plunged 24.6% year-over-year to NT$108.2 billion ($3.32 billion).