UK electronics systems community focus of Government report

The work will examine opportunities for the sector and ways in which efforts can be supported. The work will be chaired by ex ARM executive Jamie Urquhart, pictured. He will be joined by a group of industry leaders and hopes the report will be published in advance of its planned date of Q2 2012. According to Urquhart, it's an interesting time to 'start to stick things together'. "The UK has a broad spread of companies which are invisible, but whose technology appears in exciting products. The report gives the opportunity to take a longer term view again." In one respect, the report appears to be a reprise of the work undertaken by the Electronics Innovation and Growth Team, which produced a 10 year plan in 2005. But Urquhart said: "It's a matter of understanding what we have and to give the sector a more strategic direction." However, he accepted the challenge would be how to create action. Mark Prisk, minister for business and enterprise, said the report would help the Government to understand how it can break through barriers to growth and improve the sector's competitiveness. "Electronic systems are prevalent in new markets and virtually every business sector. The UK's strength in this sector gives the potential to make an even bigger impact on global markets."