Activities of joint research and development group on hybrid microelectronics

An example of the successful cooperation between researchers from SME (small or medium enterprises) and from research institutions is described. Industrial partner is HIPOT-HYB Production of hybrid circuits, Sentjernej while the main research partner is Jozef Stefan institute, Ljubljana. The cooperation was established as a mixed (i.e., researchers from industry and Institute) research group 25 years ago. Short chronology of this collaboration in the past 25 years and some more important results of research and development are presented. The successful work was based mainly on good relations between partners in research, development and technology; research possibilities at the institute, and good understanding of problems in hybrid circuits production. The continuous support of managers must also be emphasised. All this allowed researchers and technologists to determine the problems which appear in the industry and seek out appropriate solutions based on industrial needs and accumulated knowledge in the research sphere. This enabled both the more effective planning of the projects as well as effective technology transfer from research and development laboratory to the production. The national technology development policy was and still is one of the most important factors which influence both successful research work and technology transfer.