Dundee's big leap

Dundee University and the Scottish Enterprise Network have this week launched a Pounds 5.5 million company that could revolutionise the international microelectronics industry.

Amcet Ltd, opened by Henry McLeish, Scotland's minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, exploits the commercial potential of advanced materials research by James Cairns and James Thomson. Amcet will develop and apply a range of materials known as organometallic compounds, which have more memory than the standard silicon chip. The new technology is expected to form the basis of the manufacture of the next generation of electronic devices.

The university owns 74 per cent of Amcet's shares, with the remainder owned by Scottish Enterprise Tayside, which provided Pounds 2.4 million. Speciality chemicals company Laporte plc has been licensed to manufacture and sell the compounds.

Details: www.dundee.ac.uk/chemistry/ thomson.htm and www.microelectronics.org.uk