Government invites NMI to lead strategic review of UK's Electronic Systems community

Due for publication in Q2 2012, the report will illustrate the opportunities for UK Electronic Systems innovation and identify ways in which policy can be adapted to promote and support future growth, developing critical insight to strengthen UK operations and businesses.

Industry veteran Jamie Urquhart has agreed to chair the investigation and oversee the report's creation. He will head a representative group of leading executives in conducting and analysing independent research, generating data and identifying opportunities from work-streams, which will be identified by the executive group.

Urquhart is ideally suited to lead this report, having spent time at Plessey's Caswell Research Centre, Acorn Computers and the founding team of ARM Ltd. In 2002 he became an angel investor and partner with Pond Ventures, investing significantly in the industry and developing a wealth of experience of early stage European companies in the semiconductor, communication, wireless and software sectors.

Jamie Urquhart said: The UK Electronics Systems community is producing world leading innovation, yet this remains largely unrecognised. Electronic Systems touch our lives in many ways and are of great strategic, economic and social value... With a co-ordinated approach we can build on its global standing. This report will provide new insight and help this community to be even stronger in future.
Mark Prisk MP, minister for business and enterprise: I have been impressed with NMI's message that Electronic Systems are prevalent in new markets and virtually every business sector. These include national priorities such as transport, energy and healthcare.

They are an enabler for social, economic and environmental change and the UK's strength in this sector gives the potential to make an even bigger impact on global markets.

I have therefore asked NMI to lead the report, working closely with other trade associations and relevant organisations in order to help government understand how we can break the barriers to growth and improve the competitiveness of this diverse community in the UK.

Derek Boyd, CEO at NMI commented: This initiative provides a great opportunity to highlight the importance of Electronic Systems in the UK, to redefine the electronics industry in its continued transformation and foster a leaner, stronger and world leading ecosystem. We're inviting engagement from the community and I'm delighted to have the support of both the minister and other industry associations on the UK Electronics Alliance and public sector bodies, such as Semta, EPSRC and the Technology Strategy Board.