Abstract
The significance of the electronics components industry worldwide can be understood both by its phenomenal growth and by its pervasiveness. Growth was over five times that of US GNP for the ten years to 1973 in the semiconductor industry. In qualitative terms, new areas of application, from watches to microwave ovens to electronic mail, computing and telecommunications, have mushroomed. An understanding of the pattern of industrial innovation and economic performance of the still small UK semiconductor industry is a key to understanding the development and future competitiveness of a much wider range of advanced industrial sectors in the UK economy.
This chapter is based upon evidence from a study by the author of the UK semiconductor industry, Multinational Electronic Companies and National Economic Policies (JAI Press, Connecticut, 1977). More recent technical and competitive developments in the industry have been analysed in the chapter.
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© 1980 Science Policy Research Unit
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Sciberras, E. (1980). The UK Semiconductor Industry. In: Pavitt, K. (eds) Technical Innovation and British Economic Performance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06381-9_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06381-9_16
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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