Microengineering-from the White Paper to wealth creation

Microengineering has attracted much attention over recent years with major initiatives launched in Japan, USA and Europe. In the UK there is a growing belief that the emergence of real market demand for the sort of products this technology can provide will lead to its volume exploitation. Given increasing industrial awareness of and commitment to microengineering and its potential for wealth creation, the SERC and DTI are looking at the need for future initiatives in this important area. However, the publication in May 1993 of the government´s White Paper `Realising our potential´ (HMSO-Cm 2250) represented an important re-orientation of the government´s policy which could well effect the nature of any support that might be forthcoming for microengineering. This paper reviews the White Paper and the impact of current government policy on the future of microengineering, in the UK and Europe