JTECH(Japanese Technology Evaluation Program) panel report on opto- and microelectronics

The panel report evaluates and compares research and development (R&D) in Japan and the U.S. in solid state electronics and opto-electronics. Analysis reveals trends which, when extrapolated, suggest that quantum mechanically-based dimensionally constrained devices and integrated circuits may represent the most significant future electronic and electro-optic data and signal processing options. The Japanese are shown to be aggressive in acquiring, improving, and implementing these technologies, whose conceptual aspects were developed in the U.S. Presently, the United States' scientific and technological efforts concerning the future generation of solid state electronics are slightly ahead of Japan's; however, the Japanese are trying to maintain their adaptive product-oriented R and D while at the same time encouraging original creative fundamental and applied research on all aspects of solid state electronics and electro-optics. Continuous monitoring of trends in microelectronics is recommended.