13 July 2007
Dr Andrew Nelson OBE, CEO and President of IQE plc, was honoured to conduct the official opening of The University of Sheffield“s £25 million multi-disciplinary research, North Campus.
Dr Nelson, who is an alumnus of the University“s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering said: "I am delighted to be returning to the University to carry out the official opening of this impressive campus. This multi-disciplinary centre is an important development for both the University and the whole region, creating an environment which allows industry to engage with University research."
The site comprises the Kroto Research Institute; the Kroto Innovation Centre; the Nanoscience &Technology Centre;and the Sorby Nano Investigation Centre. It will give researchers the opportunity to work together across a range of research themes including electronic nanotechnology; environmental engineering science; future generation materials; nanocharacterisation; nanomagnetics; organic optoelectronics; soft nanotechnology; tissue engineering; and virtual reality.
The official opening of the campus followed the annual Kroto Research Symposium, an event which communicates and celebrates multi-disciplinary research across North Campus. The event provided the opportunity for scientists from the University and high-tech businesses, located on the site, to talk about their research and the developments they have achieved. The `Kroto Prize for Science Education of Young People“ and the `Kroto Prize for Scientific Image“ was also presented at the event by Sir Harold Kroto, winner of the Nobel Prize of Chemistry.
Professor Sir Harold Kroto, said: "During my lifelong career in science I have benefited greatly from close multi-disciplinary collaboration and I believe it is the right way to approach the emerging nanoscale landscape. Such collaboration promotes new insights and fosters new approaches which accelerates research progress and inevitably leads to major scientific breakthroughs."
Professor Geof Tomlinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Sheffield, added: "The creation of North Campus and its multi-disciplinary approach to research will help the University set the agenda in terms of global research activities. It will also enable us to develop a number of strategic research partnerships and collaborations with world-leading institutions and organisations, as well as develop important industrial partnerships with high-tech businesses."
Contacts:
IQE plc
+44 (0)29 2083 9400
Drew Nelson
Phil Rasmussen
Chris Meadows
College Hill
+44 (0)20 7457 2020
Adrian Duffield
Jon Davies
Noble and Company
+ 44 (0) 20 7763 2200
John Llewellyn-Lloyd
Sam Reynolds
NOTE TO EDITORS
IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers with products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a 'one stop shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers.
IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers ('epi-wafers') to the major chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips which form the key components of virtually all high technology systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms.
IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer, communication, computing and industrial applications, including a complete range of wafer products for the wireless industry, such as mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, base stations, GPS, and satellite communications; optical communications, optical storage (CD, DVD), laser optical mouse, laser printers & photocopiers, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical products, barcode, high efficiency LEDs and a variety of advanced silicon based systems.
The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to source wafers from specialist foundries such as IQE in order to reduce overall wafer costs and accelerate time to market.
IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customised materials for specific applications and offers specialist technical staff to manufacture to specification either at its own facilities or on the customer's own sites. The Group is also able to leverage its global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost of raw materials. In this way IQE's supply services, provide compelling benefits in terms of flexibility and predictability of cost, thereby significantly reducing operating risk.
IQE operates six manufacturing facilities located in Cardiff (two) and Milton Keynes in the UK; in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Somerset, New Jersey in the USA; and Singapore. The Group also has 11 sales offices located in major economic centres worldwide.