January 14, 2008

News      p. 11

News from International CES 2008

Sony, Matsushita, Samsung and Others Design Specifications for 4Gbps Wireless HD Technology

Electronics Manufacturers Quicken the Pace of Restructuring the FPD Industry

Toshiba Reenters the Li-ion Secondary Battery Market

Agreement Seems to Be Reached to Continue Recording Compensation Payments

Key Person

Gemini Mobile Technologies, Hiroshi Ohta: “Go Out into the World with Japanese Phone Technology”      p. 35

Keyword

Article 30 of the Copyright Act         p. 37

NE Interview

Microsoft Research India, Assistant Managing Director, Kentaro Toyama: “You Won’t Understand Unless You Try and Visit a Slum”       p. 38

World Report

From the US: Analyzing “Black Friday”─Most Japanese Television Manufacturers Stagnate           p. 42

Cover Story

The New System of R&D: Use the World’s Wisdom     p. 47

Labor shortages are casting a shadow over Japan’s research and development efforts.  What lies in store if the country sticks to its “independent” and “homegrown” R&D philosophies?  Can companies survive without taking on personnel from overseas?  We take a look at the competition for global labor resources.

Prologue             p. 48

The world’s four main R&D centers

Opinion  p. 50

China and India are no longer low-cost centers

The days of China and India being the answer to the quest to cut development costs are drawing to an end.  In several years, the cost of hiring top engineers will come close to that of developed nations and at some point the two countries will be major centers for the development of cutting-edge technology.  China and India have a growing presence with significant personnel exchanges occurring between these two nations and the US and Europe.  Japanese firms, meanwhile, need to devise R&D strategies that encompass China and India.

The Frontline Overseas     p. 56

Can Japan make ground on the US and Europe?

What is happening in Asian countries, such as India, China and the recently prominent Vietnam, boasting an abundance of able science and engineering specialists?  Old conventions no longer apply.  Globally-operating companies from around the world are jostling with one another to secure the human resources necessary to develop cutting-edge technologies.

Domestic Trends  p. 70

Revitalizing Japan with talented human resources from overseas

Stimulating engineers in Japan, in addition to overseas bases, is vital if Japanese firms want to improve their global competitiveness.  Domestic R&D bases have had a tendency to maintain a narrow outlook.  But now Japanese companies are beginning efforts to revitalize their programs with an infusion of talent from other cultures, speaking languages other than Japanese.

Interview             p. 75

Japanese executives offer their views

The shortage of engineering personnel in Japan is worsening.  Japanese firms are going to have to reorganize their domestically-oriented R&D structures and actively bring in human resources from overseas if they wish to stay on top of the global competition.  We asked senior executives from various companies about their R&D strategies and other views.

Special Feature

Preview of ISSCC 2008: The Theme Is Medical/Healthcare       p. 89

At February’s International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2008, which focuses on cutting-edge semiconductor circuit technology, we can expect to come across a stream of new LSIs created using 45nm CMOS technology, which would point towards further progress in circuitry miniaturization.  Presentations dealing with applications in the medical, healthcare and environmental fields are also likely to feature.

The Path to Implement the “Plug-in Car”: Cost Barrier to Drive an EV 10 Miles Is Broken  p. 101

The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is currently enjoying much attention in the US.  Automakers have established their intention to commercialize such vehicles.  Revisions to California’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation, which aims to reduce emissions from vehicles, will likely bring forward the commercialization of PHEVs.  Automakers are attempting to break down the barrier generated by high battery cost by limiting the all-electric range of an electric vehicle to around 10 miles.

Documentary

A Patent Battle on Enemy Territory (Part 5): Forgent’s Longest Day        p. 109

Tutorial

Avoiding Solder Defects through Thermal Design (Final): Causes Are Hidden in the Entire Process              p. 118

In most cases, defective solder joints are caused by a combination of factors, rather than one particular problem.  Potentially liable parameters must therefore be closely observed and controlled throughout the process from circuit, substrate and mechanical design stages right through to manufacturing.  The optimal situation is for the person in charge of thermal design to keep tabs on the process from start to finish.

Digital Television Seminar (Part 2)─ISDB-Tsb: A “Digital Radio” Technology Different from 1seg    p. 126

ISDB-Tsb is an audio and multimedia broadcasting specification based on the ISDB-T format.  It enables broadcasting of original video content in the same manner as the MediaFLO technology developed by Qualcomm Inc.  ISDB-Tmm, another multimedia broadcasting specification that combines the merits of ISDB-T and ISDB-Tsb formats, is also being studied.

For further information, please contact:

Nikkei Electronics

1-17-3, Shirokane

Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 108-8646

Vox: +81-3-6811-8141, Fax: +81-3-5421-9100

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/