Outlook 2003 - more than just a program
12 February 2003
News
Roger Dawes, executive director of the Electronics Industry Federation offers his views on 2003.
Strange but true: the effect of the global recession, particularly in the ICT arena, has had a very positive effect on SA practitioners. Whilst many companies have become 'leaner', the outflow into the job market of skilled professionals has resulted in an increasing number of entrepreneurs, ready to 'go it alone', and be 'meaner' if necessary. Having learnt the corporate lessons, they are hungry for new business, expanding from initial niche markets to reach globally where possible.
Government and industry initiatives such as the Innovation Hub provided a fertile growing ground for new ideas, and must be applauded, although more investment is always needed.
Meanwhile, some industry stalwarts go from strength to strength, finding new products and new markets that help them form a stable base on which to build new growth.
There seems to be a sentiment around the ICT industry that predicts a revived expansion phase - something that, with the dynamic factors now present in our economy we can almost be assured of.
It looks to be a great year.
Roger Dawes is executive director of the Electronics Industry Federation (EIF) and executive director of the Computer Society. His views expressed in this article are personal.
Further reading:
Hitachi reinvents asset management solution
News
Hitachi Energy, in collaboration with Microsoft, is accelerating the digital transformation of essential infrastructure - from electricity networks and transportation corridors to heavy industrial operations - by reinventing how critical assets are managed and maintained.
Read more...
Mycronic releases mixed Q4 results
News
Mycronic reported mixed Q4 results for the year ended January to December 2025, while delivering record full year order intake and net sales.
Read more...
AGOA: Businesses should diversify or face significant exposure
News
Cross-border payments platform Verto has called on South African and African businesses to accelerate their transition toward a “post-AGOA” trade strategy following President Donald Trump’s signing of a one-year extension to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Read more...
European components distribution growing
News
European electronic components distribution returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to newly released figures from DMASS Europe.
Read more...
Silicon Labs reports strong growth
News
Silicon Labs has reported robust financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, with significant YoY revenue gains and shifting market dynamics.
Read more...
Siemens acquires Canopus AI
ASIC Design Services
News
The acquisition extends Siemens’ comprehensive EDA software portfolio with computational metrology and inspection to help chipmakers solve critical technical challenges in semiconductor manufacturing.
Read more...
Micron breaks ground on new wafer fabs
News
Micron Technology has advanced two major semiconductor manufacturing initiatives that together reflect the company’s strategic response to sustained global demand for memory solutions.
Read more...
Texas Instruments announces planned acquisition of Silicon Labs
News
Texas Instruments Incorporated and Silicon Laboratories recently announced a definitive agreement under which Texas Instruments will acquire Silicon Labs, combining two leaders in semiconductor technology.
Read more...
AI-fueled supercycle doubles memory market revenue
News
The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence is set to propel both the memory and wafer foundry sectors to unprecedented revenue levels by 2026, according to TrendForce.
Read more...
Research agreement for EUV tech
News
Gelest, Inc., a Mitsubishi Chemical Group company, recently announced a research agreement with IBM to test Gelest precursor materials for dry resist EUV lithography.
Read more...
printer friendly version