Part 2: From Chip to System

If DRAM memories were the technology drivers of the 80s, then in the 90s, the key to success was the linking of a user idea with front-end technology. This marked a shift from chip to system. It is here in the field of system technology, a field which has presented opportunities to medium-sized companies in the semiconductor industry in particular, that Europe has been able to gain a lot of ground over the last few years, especially in comparison with Japan. Over the next decade, the automation of system-oriented design will be another major aspect of nanoelectronics, as will the mastering of the technology and system knowledge. One factor that cannot be overestimated for economic success is the ability to design chip systems with billions of transistors quickly, effectively and without faults.Developments in electronics have a dynamism that has never been seen before in the entire history of the industry. This is manifested in the two-figure growth rates in turnover and

- a drastic reduction in unit prices,
- a sharp increase in complexity and performance capability,
- a reduction in energy consumption,
- a considerable increase in R&D and production expenditure, and
- a shortening of life cycles notwithstanding the cyclical peaks and troughs which are typical for the sector.
Next: A Turning Point