Electronic Specifier's Weekly Newsletter
Electronic Specifier Ltd
The hub for all things electronics! We are the leading supplier of information resources to design engineers globally.
This week's newsletter is dedicated to our top stories of the week.
Royal Academy of Engineering welcomes new President
Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, a global technology pioneer and investor, has been officially announced as the new President of?the Royal Academy of Engineering.
His appointment follows a vote by the Academy’s Fellows at its AGM on 17th September 2024. Lazar will serve as President for five years, a tenure that will include the Academy’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
Lazar is a distinguished software engineer and business leader with a passion for harnessing technology and entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change. He currently serves as Chair of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which empowers young people through digital technology. Under his leadership, the Foundation’s commercial subsidiary successfully launched an IPO on the London Stock Exchange, securing a ￡500M endowment to support its global mission.
In addition to his work with Raspberry Pi, Lazar is a co-founder and General Partner at Enza Capital, an investment firm backing technology-driven solutions to major challenges across Africa. He is actively involved in the African tech sector, serving on the boards of several companies. His past leadership roles include Chair of What3words and CEO of Metaswitch Networks, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth before it was acquired by Microsoft in 2020. In recognition of his contributions to engineering, Lazar was awarded a CBE in 2016.
A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering since 2011, Lazar has made significant contributions to the Academy’s initiatives. He chairs the Academy’s Enterprise Committee, which supports startups and scaleups through the Enterprise Hub, and has served on the Education and Skills Committee. He was also instrumental in shaping the UK’s school Computer Science curriculum.
Series 16 – Episode 1 – Building Germany's first quantum computer demonstrator
Paige West speaks with Christian Wiebus, Senior Director New Business and Innovation, NXP about?the company’s partnership with eleQtron and ParityQC?to build the first quantum computer demonstrator made entirely in Germany.
NXP has joined forces with eleQtron and ParityQC to create the first quantum computer demonstrator entirely developed in Germany. This collaborative effort aims to leverage the expertise of each partner to advance quantum computing technology within the country.
At the heart of the partnership, eleQtron leads the effort with its experience in developing quantum computers based on ion trap technology. Wiebus explained: "eleQtron is the one having the knowledge to really get this ion trap-based quantum computer set up and operational."
Meanwhile, ParityQC is responsible for the software that bridges the gap between classical computing and quantum computing, transforming problems into formats that quantum systems can process. NXP’s contribution focuses on its classical technology expertise. Wiebus noted that NXP brings in its well-established CMOS technology: "How can we help to really get those quantum computers to the next level? That's basically the role distribution in this consortium."
Despite the promise of quantum computing, the technology remains in a research phase, with significant hurdles ahead. Many companies working on quantum systems are university spin-offs, like eleQtron. The challenge lies not only in developing functional quantum computers but also in operating and scaling them reliably.
WE United in partnership with Electronic Specifier launch new industry survey
WE United and Electronic Specifier have officially launched a new survey aimed at capturing the views and aspirations of talent across the electronics industry and related markets.
领英推荐
The initiative invites participation from individuals at all levels, providing a platform for them to share their perspectives on the industry's current talent landscape. The survey, which debuted at the WE United Summit on 11th September 2024, aims to create a clearer understanding of workforce needs and aspirations. As part of its collaboration with WE United, Electronic Specifier will also host a forum at electronica in Munich the 13th November 2024.
The survey will be circulated throughout 2024, including at major events such as electronica in November, with the goal of capturing insights from a wide range of participants.
The collected data will be compiled into a detailed report, scheduled for release in Q1 2025. This report, titled the ‘Global Industry Workforce Report’, is expected to provide valuable insights for executives and leaders in shaping people and culture strategies that align with the needs of their workforce.
DigiKey exec receives Women in Electronics Unity Award
DigiKey has announced that Linda Johnson, Executive Vice President of Operations, has been honoured with the WE Unity Award by?Women in Electronics (WE).
This award celebrates individuals who champion the growth and opportunities for women within the electronics and industrial sectors.
Jackie Mattox, the Founder, President, and CEO of WE, praised Johnson’s leadership: “It is with great honour and pleasure to recognise Linda Johnson for her outstanding service as a leader of both character and impact in the electronics industry. Linda is a true professional who exhibits the gold standard of leadership, and we are blessed for her involvement with our organisation.”
The WE Unity Award, which was first introduced in 2021, recognises individuals who align with the WE mission of promoting women's roles within the electronics industry. Selected by the WE Executive Team, recipients are chosen for their leadership characterised by civility, ethics, and humanity. Johnson’s contributions extend beyond her professional role, as she actively participates in education initiatives and serves as a role model for women across the industry.
Women in Electronics honours Waldom CEO
Women in Electronics (WE) has honoured Don Akery, CEO of Waldom Electronics, and?Linda Johnson, a leader at DigiKey, with the WE Unity Award.
This accolade, first introduced in 2021, is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership grounded in civility, ethics, and humanity, while promoting inclusivity within their organisations and the wider electronics industry.
The WE Unity Award is an integral part of Women in Electronics' mission, which focuses on empowering women and advocating for diversity in leadership roles. Each year, this award recognises individuals who use their influence to foster positive change and create more opportunities for women within the industry. Both Akery and Johnson were selected for their outstanding contributions to advancing this cause and their consistent support for professional growth and inclusion.
Jackie Mattox, CEO of Women in Electronics, praised Akery for his dedication: “Don has been an advocate of WE for many years now. He serves on our Advisory Council and has significantly contributed to the growth of the WE organisation. We are grateful for his commitment to our mission on behalf of Waldom to open opportunities for all qualified talent to thrive.”
Expressing his appreciation, Akery remarked: “I’m honoured to receive the WE Unity Award alongside Linda Johnson, a strong and impactful leader in our industry. Women in Electronics continues to inspire with their commitment to empowering and celebrating women.”
#ElectronicSpecifier #Newsletter #Tech #Engineering #Electronics #Digikey #WomeninElectronics