In order to serve the technical community served by CPMT, the UKRI CPMT & Reliability Chapter has recognised the benefits of working with kindred societies to ensure we do not act in a divisive manner in planning and delivering our technical programme. Accordingly, we have reached agreement with the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society (IMAPS) UK Chapter, that we will aim to work together and to co-sponsor technical conferences and seminars serving the same interests. Additionally, the international IMAPS body arrived at the same decision at a meeting at the major Conference in Boston in November 2003.

We are pleased to announce that two such collaborative events were held in the UK in 2003.
The first was the Ceramics Interconnection Initiative Conference held earlier in the year at the Novotel at Heathrow. A number on eminent ceramics technology experts from the USA, Nordic countries and the UK presented leading edge papers to an international audience comprising over 70 IEEE members, IMAPS members and non-members.
The second event held at the Hayley Conference Centre at Stratford-upon-Avon during 1-2 October 2003 also attracted over 70 international and national delegates and speakers. The conference themes were "Microelectronics in Medicine - the Convergence of Bioscience and Microsystems Technology", "Polymers for Advanced Microelectronics Fabrication & Structure" and a "Market Watch" session. There was very active participation in the Market Watch session, which will be a feature at future events.

Planning is well advanced for a co-sponsored Conference on "Packaging for Optoelectronics" to be held in early March 2004 at the Moller Centre of Cambridge University.

--Prof. Nihal Sinnadurai
Chairman CPMT & Reliability Chapter