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Mohamed WAHAB
University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, CF37 1DL, United Kingdom
Abstract. FUSE is a major ESPRIT technology transfer programme aimed at stimulating the effective use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises. Since the first call for FUSE proposals in June 1995, the project has made a marked impression on the technology transfer scene in all European regions. This paper will describe the objectives, structure and operation of FUSE. The achievements to date will be illustrated and the future outlook will be outlined.
1. Introduction
The First User Action (FUSE) is an ESPRIT technology transfer project aimed at promoting the use of electronic technologies by European enterprises, thereby increasing their competitiveness. FUSE is identified in the 1996 Work Programme as: "Stimulating the access of small and medium sized enterprises to the use of technologies for electronic systems and microsystems, in the context of an action for first users."
Although FUSE is oriented towards small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it is not exclusively reserved for SMEs. The aim of FUSE is to actively encourage industrial enterprises to utilise microelectronics technologies to improve existing products and manufacturing processes. The technology adopted must be new to the enterprise and will result in a clear increment in its technological capability. The philosophy of FUSE, as an ESPRIT accompanying measure, evolves around the concept that European enterprises can become more competitive by incorporating electronic technologies into manufactured products or utilising these technologies in the manufacturing process. To attract more enterprises to take practical steps in this direction it is essential to lower the real and perceived barriers to their entry into the microelectronics field at the appropriate level.
2. The Structure and Operation of FUSE
FUSE utilises the concept of a funded Application Experiment (AE) as an instrument to enable the first use of microelectronics technologies. During the AE, the enterprise, termed first user, will use new technologies to conduct the specification, design, prototype manufacture and testing of a component or system which is relevant to the improvement of its manufactured products or processes. The AE is conducted by the first user in collaboration with subcontractors to ensure that sufficient knowledge is transferred to the enterprise and a sustained increment in its technological capabilities is achieved. In addition to the benefits gained by the funded enterprise, FUSE aims to widely disseminate the results of the AEs to encourage other enterprises to adopt electronic technologies as means of improving competitiveness. Replication by other enterprises will create a multiplication effect that will result in a wider take-up of new technologies in all regions of Europe.
To realise the objective of FUSE and enable the concept of the AE to be implemented effectively a network consisting of 26 Technology Transfer Nodes (TTNs) and a Support Centre was installed to cover all regions of Europe. The TTNs conduct regional proactive work to convince enterprises of the technical and economic benefits of microelectronics technologies. They promote awareness of a wide range of technologies including microprocessors, ASICs, MCMs and microsystems. Each TTN disseminates information concerning available services, and provide training to potential first users, with emphasis on technical management. The TTNs also perform the administrative and monitoring tasks of all application experiments attached to them. The network of TTNs facilitates the exchange of information between first users on an international level and extracts the public information of the AEs to enable effective dissemination. This information is utilised by the TTNs to ensure that their proactive work results in the envisaged multiplication effect.
3. The Current Status of FUSE
The 26 TTNs were established in January 1996 and commenced their operation in all regions of Europe. Since that date and despite the fact that the FUSE project is still in its early stages, the TTN network has managed to demonstrate the correctness of the FUSE philosophy and the potential of the project. The latest data which cover the first five calls of FUSE show that some 1200 proposals have been submitted by first users of which 288 have been approved. This overwhelming response to the opportunities offered by FUSE is a clear indication of the potential for exploiting microelectronics technologies in all regions of Europe and across the whole range of industry sectors. The submitted proposals and the approved AEs have demonstrated the effectiveness of the TTN network and the success of its proactive work to promote the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies from the simplest PCB to the most complex microsystem. FUSE has penetrated many industrial areas where microelectronics technologies did not feature prominently as viable options to improve competitiveness. These areas include mining, agriculture, chemical industries and building. The portfolio of AEs so far represents a comprehensive dissemination tool.
The activities of the TTN network have made FUSE a high visibility technology transfer project, with a house style and regular publications, and gained recognition at a regional and Europe-wide scale. As such, FUSE has become a natural complement to a wide range of European and national microelectronics programmes. There is a strong collaboration between the FUSE TTNs and EUROPRACTICE Basic Services to enable their first user enterprises low cost and effective access routes to manufacturing of microelectronics components. In addition to the advantages to the first users, FUSE has resulted in benefits to design houses, training providers, foundries and other service providers.
The initial phase of FUSE has shown regional variations in the take-up of newer technologies, an imbalance in the coverage of technologies and industry sectors. These issues will be addressed by the TTNs in the next phase of the project. The initial successes of this large scale project, and the ability to overcome the teething problems associated with any new project, were made possible by the dedication of the FUSE team at the EC and its continuous support to the effort of the TTNs.
4. The Future
During the next phases of FUSE, the TTN network will expand its activities, consolidate its achievements and address the strategic issues of the project.
Expansion of the proactive and dissemination activities of the TTN network will allow a wider geographical coverage to ensure that all areas of Europe will benefit from FUSE. This will also enable the network to penetrate newer industrial sectors, and to address the imbalance in the technology coverage. In this context, the TTNs plans include stronger collaboration with other European projects, such as EUROPRACTICE Basic Services, and many national programmes.
The consolidation plans are aimed at strengthening the TTN network, and maximising the utilisation of the interim and final results of the active AEs. Practical steps have already been taken at the organisational level to extract the added value of having a TTN network as opposed to a collection of isolated centres. This will be achieved by improved communication, interaction and exchange of experience. As a result the TTN network will be a more efficient and effective structure with the capability of addressing the regional variations in performance that were demonstrated in the previous phase of FUSE.
The next phase of the project will witness heavier emphasis on adopting effective methods for replicating the results of the AEs and demonstrating the multiplication effect of FUSE. The network is currently formulating plans to address two aspects of this issue. The first is concerned with achieving replication and ensuring that every AE will result in a multiplicity of similar projects conducted by other companies. The second aspect of the plans evolves around an effective approach to gauge the replication and multiplication. The partners in the TTN network fully understand that addressing these issues is the key to demonstrating the success of FUSE in stimulating the first use of microelectronics technologies in Europe.
In conclusion, the initial phase of FUSE has illustrated the great potential for exploiting microelectronics in Europe, especially by SMEs, and has shown the merits of this approach to stimulate technology transfer.
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