UK electronics unites to address the future

Let's make this plain right from the start; New Electronics is fully supportive of any actions that look to boost the industry's profile, impact and prospects. But there are many questions to ask about the initiative – the most important being why has it taken so long for it to happen? Veteran industry watchers will remember David Kynaston's Electronics Innovation and Growth Team report, published in December 2004. Entitled 'Making a Visible Difference', the report painted a bleak picture of UK Electronics in 2015 if certain things weren't put into place. Its conclusions, apparently, still hold. One was 'the UK electronics industry is invisible and fragmented'. Another was the sector was 'trying to solve its problems, but through unfocused initiatives that lack critical mass'. "The challenge," said Kynaston at the time, "is for industry to get its act together ... to focus on strategic priorities." The important thing now is for companies and individuals to participate in the process: there are five half day seminars being held in June. For more on ESCO (Electronic Systems – Challenges and Opportunities) and to find the seminar nearest you, follow the links on this page.