February 27, 2006 – Semefab is establishing a new design and development center for nanotechnology in its Glenrothes, Fife, operation, under a GBP15 million (US $26.2 million) project jointly managed by the Scottish Enterprise and the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry.

The Institute for System Level Integration, a collaboration among the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, and Strathclyde, will provide design expertise. The project is funded under the UK Micro and Nanotechnology Network initiative launched by Lord Sainsbury in 2003.

Semefab expects 40 companies will create 50 new product prototypes at its facilities over the next 5 years, contributing an additional GBP 53 million ($92.4 million) to the Scottish economy.

“This project will not only help Scottish and UK companies to access state-of-the art product design and production facilities, but will also position both Semefab and Scotland at the forefront of the global nanotechnology market,” stated Neil Francis, director of Scottish Enterprise’s Micro and Optoelectronics Cluster.