Scottish Advanced Manufacturing Centre: a case study of partnership

The dynamic nature of process and technology evolution within the electronics industry requires equivalent changes within the academic sector for training and research. Career and vocational training which supports industry trends must maintain that workforce infrastructure and provide opportunities for career development and growth. The Scottish Advanced Manufacturing Centre (SAMC) has evolved as a research and education resource for the electronics industry. This Centre, located in the heart of Scotland´s Silicon Glen, provides a partnership between education and industrial institutions which focuses on sector needs, strategic aims and technology evolution. In addition, SAMC facilitates the strategic collaboration between industry and academia to focus on supply, technology and processes which will maintain market leadership. SAMC has evolved from a close relationship between Napier University´s Scottish Electronics Manufacturing Centre and West Lothian College. This paper provides an overview of the development of SAMC as a strategic resource to the electronics industry