editor’s word
Editor-in-Chief David Ridsdale
Diminishing returns
+44 (0)1923 690210 dr@angelbcl.co.uk
Publisher Jackie Cannon
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The semiconductor industry has a well known economic cycle of boom
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Shehzad Munshi
and bust but each cycle now reveals the changes that subsequent
+44 (0)1923 690215 sm@angelbcl.co.uk downturns are having on the industry. The euphemism for these
Tommy Beazley
+44 (0)1923 690222 tb@angelbcl.co.uk
changes is a maturing industry and it is true you can see similar market
forces occurring in other industries. The semiconductor industry is
Design & Production Manager
Mitchell Gaynor
different to many industries as an enabler for most other industries. The
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ability and space to innovate in both engineering and application is
Circulation Director
what provides the foundation for technological discovery. There is a
Issue V 2009
square4
Jan Smoothy
real chance that a great deal of this innovation may be stifled if
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‘standard’ economic realities continue to direct future of the
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Subscriptions Manager
semiconductor industry.
Debbie Higham
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A maturing industry really just means the initial gold rush is over and
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Stephen Whitehurst
the bigger fish have swallowed the leaner and faster fish with the
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remainder left to fend for themselves. Manufacturing practices have
oasiasemiconductor
Directors been refined and the products are manufactured by fewer players
.eur
Stephen Whitehurst
jockeying for market position. With fewer players now controlling the
Jan Smoothy
Bill Dunlop Uprichard market there is a decrease in the need for tool, material and support
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companies. Consolidation, acquisition and mergers cull the competing 3
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of potential customers.
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This is the normal process in any industry but there is a downside that
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impacts semiconductors more than most. As an industry matures there
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is a subsequent shrinking of the resources devoted to research and
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development to discover new innovations. The semiconductor industry
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is seeing an exponential rise in R&D costs at the same time the industry
matures. This means the larger players in the tool and materials market
have to focus on improving margins to suit share holder needs but are
EuroAsia Semiconductor is published nine times a year
on a controlled circulation basis. Non-qualifying being squeezed from customers and suppliers to take on a great R&D
individuals can subscribe at:
£105.00/
burden. The reality is that companies spend less in real terms as well as
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percentage of earnings on research and development of new ideas that
All information herein is believed to be correct at time
of going to press. The publisher does not accept have traditionally come from the SMEs in the industry.
responsibility for any errors and omissions. The views
expressed in this publication are not necessarily those
of the publisher. Every effort has been made to
The semiconductor industry is in a real danger of being unable to
obtain copyright permission for the material contained
in this publication.
follow the expected road of continued innovation by becoming
paralysed by market conditions that are accepted as the norm. With
Angel Business Communications Ltd will be happy
to acknowledge any copyright oversights in a
fewer SMEs able to get a foot hold there is less chance of innovative
subsequent issue of the publication.
ideas that disrupt the staus quo. This is not to say that the industry will
Angel Business Communications Ltd © Copyright 2009. stop innovating or continue to push the boundry of expectation but
All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced in
whole or part without the written consent of the
you do have to wonder how many potentially disruptive ideas are
publishers. The paper used within this magazine is
being buried beneath politically correct financial statements.
produced by chain of custody certified manufacturers,
guaranteeing sustainable sourcing.
Printed by: Pensord Press.
David Ridsdale
ISSN 1751-1135(Print)
Editor-in-Chief
ISSN 2041-1383(Online)
EuroAsia Semiconductor is
a Corporate Member of SEMI
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