When I began work at UCC in 1975 there was only one computer in college, a large mainframe computer that filled a large room in the Kane Building. Today, every office in college has a desktop personal computer (PC), each more powerful than the original mainframe computer. That original computer was an example of electronic technology and the modern PC is an example of microelectronic technology.
The comparison between the mainframe computer of 1975 and the small powerful PCs of today illustrates a number of things. First, a microelectronics revolution has occurred over the last 25 years. Where once an entire institution was serviced by one computer, today everyone has his/her own computer. Second, whereas a sophisticated device based on traditional electronics has to be of a certain size, microelectronics can pack ever more power and sophistication into small devices.
Microelectronics is a highly specialised modern development of electrical engineering. The atom of electricity is the electron and, when electrons move in a conductor they produce a flow of electrical current. An electrical circuit is the path along which the current flows. In an electrical device the flow of electrons through the circuit effects some useful activity such as lighting an electric bulb.
Electronics is a branch of electrical engineering which builds sophisticated circuits in which the flow of electrons is controlled by devices such as transistors. Microelectronics does the same thing on the finest scale using tiny microcircuits and controlling currentusing devices such as transistors, diodes and resisters to process audio, video and other information signals.
In an electronic device, the various circuits constitute the brain which effects the function of the device, for example a transistor radio. In a microelectronic device, a large number of microcircuits (an integrated circuit) are located together on a small substructure no bigger than your thumbnail. Called a microchip, this constitutes the brain of the device.
Everywhere you look in the modern world you see devices controlled by microchips. The microelectronics industry is huge. It is the largest manufacturing industry in the US. Worldwide, the microelectronics industry is ranked number three behind oil and automobiles in terms of market value. It is on target to become the world's largest industry by 2015 with a value of over $1 trillion.
Microchip design, carried out by graduate and postgraduate microelectronic engineers, assisted by technicians, is at the heart of the microelectronics industry. The microelectronics industry in Ireland is booming and Ireland has the fastest-growing centre of excellence for microelectronics design in Europe. With a world market value over $200 billion and Ireland's share currently valued at £500 million per annum and growing at a rate of 38 per cent per annum for the past five years, Ireland is uniquely positioned to lead Europe in the lucrative field of microelectronic design.
About 1,000 people are directly involved in microelectronic design in Ireland, up from 200 designers in 1995. It is estimated that employment in this sector will grow from 1,000 to 2,500 over the next five years. This projected growth can occur however only if qualified graduates are available to take up the new positions. The current rate of about 100 Irish graduates per annum choosing microelectronics design careers would only enlarge the industry by 50 per cent over the next five years.
In order to enrol on a degree programme in microelectronics, the student must have a strong background in mathematics and physics. Herein lies a problem, because the numbers of Leaving Certificate students taking physics has steadily declined over the past 15 years from 21 per cent of all students in 1986 to 12 per cent today. Unless these declining trends are quickly reversed, Ireland will face an increasingly severe shortage of physicists and engineers with all that entails for the health of our economy.
MIDAS (Microelectronics Industry Design Association) Ireland was launched this February to identify the needs of the microel ectronics design industry here. It is a unique collaboration between some of Ireland's most successful indigenous and multinational mic roelectronics design companies and our leading academic institutions. The industry mem bers of MIDAS Ireland include well-known names such as Analog Devices, Intel, Motoro la, Parthus Technologies, Stratus and Xilinx. The academic members include our universities and several institutes of technology.
MIDAS Ireland has set up a website at www.midasireland.ie and is starting a schools liaison programme to raise young people's awareness of career opportunities. Schools can register through the website, can organise visits to the school by MIDAS Ireland and can participate in competitions for schools. Microelectronics design offers an attractive well-paid career option in an industry that is driving the information revolution just as, in the 19th century, machine-design drove the Industrial Revolution.
(William Reville is a senior lecturer in biochemistry and director of microscopy at UCC.)