Emerging Markets and Emerging Technologies

Last year we discussed "Innovation Priorities" at this meeting. Since then iNEMI has completed its 2007 Roadmap. Our roadmap identifies that while digital convergence occurs ever more rapidly for existing markets, the key emerging markets are those with social value such as health care, energy, and security. To address both converging markets and emerging markets, iNEMI is focusing its project agenda on the technology to support miniaturization; high reliability medical electronics; and energy and the environment. The technology to meet these focus areas includes system in package, energy storage and conversion, sensors, advanced manufacturing processes, and advanced materials. This article not only highlights projects that iNEMI is establishing to support these focus areas, but also the gaps in technology that we have identified, from the 2007 roadmap, which may limit the growth of the electronics industry during the next decade. Given the limited resources available for industry, academia, and governments to apply, it is crucial that R&D efforts focus on these high priority knowledge gaps.