The Views of Universities and National Laboratories: the Electronic Components Industry

Abstract

In Chapter 7 the focus was on the use of universities and national laboratories by the electronic components industry and the various means by which links were constructed. The main message from that chapter was that there were distinct differences in expectations between what industry wanted and the way that PSSB institutions responded. Here the opposite (or complementary) point of view is presented. The main theme which emerges is that there is a strong sense of identity with the electronics industry in all three countries but at the same time there is considerable frustration at the distortion of the balance between shortterm and long-term projects as the necessity to provide a service to industry takes priority over ‘blue sky’ research.