Scotland's Alba center gains system-on-chip testing services company

Scotland's Alba center gains system-on-chip testing services company
By Semiconductor Business News
November 9, 2000 (8:12 a.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20001109S0003

LIVINGSTON, Scotland -- Test Advantage Holding LLC today announced the formation of a new subsidiary here to serve IC-testing markets in Europe and help support system-on-chip engineering programs at the Institute for System Level Integration at the Alba Centre in Livingston.

Privately-held Test Advantage, based in Tempe, Ariz., said the new U.K. subsidiary will offer test development, chip debug, prototype characterization, and pre-production testing services for companies in the region and support programs for engineering graduates at the Alba Centre. Local and government leaders in Scotland formed the Alba Centre a couple years ago to address emerging engineering requirements for system-on-chip products, including the need for third-party reusable intellectual property (IP) design cores.

"We intend to build the staffing level to around 15 engineers to satisfy demand for customer projects, and will work closely with the Institute to sp onsor and train graduate students to support future growth of this critical skill set in the industry," said Gordon Langlands, technical director for the subsidiary, called Test Advantage Ltd.