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DIC highlights defence sector's
highlight the efforts being made by License: ARM has announced that it has
the defence and security sector and
licensed the ARM Cortex-M3 processor to
Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited for future
importance to UK economy
explain how it is pioneering new,
more cost-effective methods for
low-power applications.
procuring, maintaining and upgrading
ARM has been a partner with Fujitsu
military equipment for the armed
Microelectronics since first licensing ARM
The Defence Industries Council (DIC) is also concerned that the public no
processor cores in 1998 to the former
forces.”
Electronic Devices Group of Fujitsu Limited,
has published two major reports longer associates the country's ability
and since then Fujitsu Microelectronics has
setting out what it calls “the vital to defend itself with the capability to
Key findings included:
been adopting ARM architecture for many
nature of the defence industry for the produce the equipment required. It
• Cutting defence projects on financial
products. With the licensing of the Cortex-
United Kingdom in terms of security, believes that as a result this risks
grounds alone would be counter-
M3 processor from ARM, Fujitsu
jobs and engineering excellence.” overlooking the country's
productive. Instead these projects
Microelectronics will be able to provide a
The DIC has urged continued manufacturing, engineering and
represent a route out of recession. A
wide range of solutions that will offer
investment in defence research and service excellence and how it is
superior performance and low power
study by Oxford Economics shows
technology amid mounting fears that harnessed to equip and support the
consumption as well as being able to
that the defence and security sector support the high code density, low
the sector could face severe cutbacks in armed forces. The reports aim to
generates more significant benefits to memory requirements of 16-bit code.
the next Ministry of Defence review, reconnect the public with the industry
the country (jobs, return to the
expected after the next general and re-engage them in discussing the
Exchequer, GDP impact, R&D
Innovation: After a successful trial of an
election. wider issue of defence.
investment and export potential)
innovative LED rail carriage lighting
The DIC says investing in the The UK still punches above its
than other sectors. A £100m
technology from Marl, Porterbrook Leasing
industry will help protect the country weight in exporting defence
investment in defence leads to a
Company estimates that the technology
and could provide a "path out of equipment and technology, while the
could save 20 million kWh, but also
£227m output, for example;
recession". sector's investment in research and
improve the ambiance and reduce
• Defence and security enables the UK maintenance costs. The announcement
One report, produced by Oxford development also benefits other
Government to target economic follows the completion of a £140,000 trial
Economics, looked at the economic industrial sectors. However, the
decisions directly to benefit the
contract of Marl Sci-Light technology, in
contribution that the sector makes to industry is heavily dependent on
economy. This can also lead to an
which a 3-car Class 323 unit was equipped
national life while the second, from the government spending, with around
increased return on the investment
with the electronically controlled lights as
DIC itself, examined the support given three-quarters of its turnover
via exports;
well as data monitoring equipment to
to the UK's armed forces by the determined by the MoD.
• While the UK operates in coalitions
enable performance and energy
industry. The sector currently employs Mike Turner, Chairman of the
consumption to be evaluated in detail.
across the globe it needs to reserve
300,000 people in the UK in over Defence Industries Council, said: “As
Sci-Light relies on high speed sensors,
its independence of action at times. and innovative control software using
9,000 companies and in 2008 the economic frailties of the British
To do so it needs a domestic defence smart algorithms to eliminate spurious
generated an annual turnover of economy become more apparent
industry that prioritises the needs of
responses to temporary minor
£35bn. It accounts for £5bn in exports; there has perhaps never been a
the UK’s armed forces and avoids any
obstructions.
supplies 10 per cent of total better opportunity to harness the
supplier country preventing the UK
manufacturing jobs in the UK and has full potential of our world-class
from acting in its interests by
Counterfeiting:
more small and medium sized defence and security industrial base
withholding equipment. The
Soldertec Global
enterprises (SMEs) than France, and use it as one of the paths out of
is claiming that it
industry's ability to supply and
Germany, Italy, Spain and Norway recession.
can now detect
support the most advanced and all blacktopped
combined. “We believe that, contrary to the
effective equipment capable of counterfeit ICs
The reports highlighted the role that prevailing mood in Westminster, now is
standing up to and defeating
through its new
the defence and security sector fulfils the time to consider investing more for
evolving threats is therefore an
service called the
for the UK and the need to ensure its our future safety, not less.
essential part of UK military
”Ultimate” Black
ongoing success. The defence industry “Our aim going forward is to
capability.
Top Test. This
new service uses
the industry
standard IDEA-
UK nanotechnology research given a boost
STD-1010-A and then adds greater depth
to the testing by looking at higher
Murata has signed a deal with the Murata Electronics UK said: “Murata’s region’s reputation for research and
magnification and adding supplementary
tests using advanced techniques.
University on Manchester's School of cutting edge engineering resources development. The Agency has been
The “Ultimate” test regime involves 25
Chemistry to work on a research and combined with the University of working closely with Murata for some different tests and is completed in
development collaboration in the field Manchester’s R&D expertise will make time to secure this for the region and I approximately a day. The company claims
of nanotechnology. Murata is a major an excellent partnership and Murata am pleased that work has now begun
that the depth of testing enables the
employer in Asia and currently employs Electronics UK is looking forward to on the project, which may lead to
laboratory to pick up all signs of prior use
over 33,000 staff. reaping the benefits of future advances further investment by Murata.”
and remarking, with many of the
Japan is the second largest Asian in nanotechnology brought about by Professor Paul O'Brien, Professor of
techniques supporting each other and
supplier of Foreign Direct Investment this collaboration.” Inorganic Materials at The University of
reaffirming earlier suspicions. If a suspect
part is found and confirmation is required
(FDI) projects to the UK. It remains the According to Mark Hughes, NWDA’s Manchester, said: “I very much welcome
then the part can be de-capped and the
most significant investor from Asia and Executive Director of Economic this collaboration with Murata, which die examined in fine detail to see if it really
continues to supply world-class Development: “This research provides access to skills and equipment is what it purports to be.
innovation through high quality collaboration is great news for the in Japan and training for a Japanese
projects. In 2008/09, Japan contributed University of Manchester and scientist in some leading edge aspects of
Research funding: The Molecular
81 new projects and created 1,405 testimony to the strength of the nanotechnology in my laboratories.”
Engineering Translational Research Centre
new jobs, the sixth largest FDI source
(METRC), which is based at the University
to the UK.
of Sheffield, has announced a proof of
concept funding call, to support projects
The Northwest Regional
which will develop cutting edge
Development Agency (NWDA) and the technology using organic materials. Funds
region’s overseas team based in Japan of up to £50,000 will be available to
together with UKTI have worked
support individual Proof of Concept
closely with Murata since 2007, when
projects to develop a range of products
they first indicated an interest in
from solar cells to medical supplies.
forming a R&D collaboration in the
METRC, which is funded by the N8
field of nanotechnology with a UK
Research Partnership, opened the call
earlier this month. The world-leading
university.
centre helps to move technology past the
After detailed discussions with the concept phase to highly functional
NWDA and Professor Paul O’Brien the products for use in everyday life.
company selected the University of
The funding is designed to support early
Manchester as the academic institution
stage research between METRC’s academic
with which they wish to form this
members and partners in industry, into a
partnership.
range of areas including home and
Salma Aziz, NWDA Business Manager Inward Investment, Colin Sinclair, Chief
Commenting on the announcement
personal care, medicine and health and
Executive of MIDAS, Professor Paul O'Brien, Professor of Inorganic Materials at The energy.
Glenn Palmer, Managing Director of
University of Manchester and Massashi Inoguchi of Murata.
4 September 2009 Components in Electronics www.cieonline.co.uk
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