====INTRODUCTION==== The recent launch of EE Times Europe in print and online means one more publication fighting for very limited European advertising budgets. I say ‘very limited’ because there has been a clear shift of advertising budgets to Asia, and China in particular, in recent times. What’s more, many US companies that routinely advertise in their home market are reluctant to do the same here. One reason could simply be the cost. My best estimate is that the cost of reaching an engineer through advertising in every major European country is 2.5X that of reaching an engineer in the US. The total number of electronics design engineers is of the same order. So along comes EE Times Europe, in print and online. To the US advertisers it must seem like the answer to their prayers – after all, it works really well in the US, so why shouldn’t it do the same ‘over there’? It’s a relatively cheap deal for such a large circulation too. I took the opportunity to have a chat with Kurt Skupin, publishing director at Germany’s largest electronics industry publisher, WEKA, while visiting Electronica last month to discuss the potential threat to his business posed by the newcomer from the US. Kurt is responsible for Markt & Technik, Elektronik, Design & Elektronik, Automotive Elektronik and the publisher’s online presence, elektroniknet.de. He seems unperturbed by EE Times Europe, or any other pan-European electronics title. “These global publishers still ignore country specifics and like to think of Europe as a single market. You simply have to be committed to publishing in the local language to succeed in France, Italy or Germany. And adding a web site that is only partly in German just makes it a weird mix that really doesn’t meet the needs of the market,” he says. In the last year, WEKA has consolidated its position as the leading German language electronics publisher and now claims a 57% market share, up 4% from 2005. “We now have over 30 full-time editors in this market and Markt & Technik, Elektronik and Design & Elektronik reach over 80% of all individuals in the decision making chain in the German electronics industry. The three titles own 90% of all paid subscriptions in the market and, with our verticals, we will publish some 112 issues next year. With the web and a series of conferences on top we can penetrate the German market like no-one else,” Kurt adds. When challenged about the international perspective that EE Times Europe brings to German readers he said, “Our editors spend a lot of time all over the world too. As far as I can see, the launch of another pan-European publication is driven by the needs of the publisher, not by the needs of readers, who are already suffering from information overload.” Despite the ‘paper culture’ often associated with Germany, WEKA feels that it is making good progress with its website – www.elektroniknet.de. The site takes advantage of editorial contributions from all the electronics publications in the WEKA stable and the IVW-online audit shows that it has enjoyed triple-digit growth in visitors over the last 3 years. The audit suggests that the site now has 5 times as many visitors as its nearest rival. Unfortunately, for those wishing to target specific market segments, WEKA does not offer its list for rental, either for print or e-mail marketing. The publisher believes that legal and cultural barriers prevent this. Kurt says, “You can reach the people on our lists through advertising in the publications or on our web site and at our conferences. We also offer valuable consultancy on the local market to companies who use these vehicles to, for example, attract visitors to customized seminars or road shows.” Germany still has the largest number of publications serving the electronics market of any country in Europe and it is the largest single market for component consumption. Print definitely rules here, the use of the web and e-marketing is far behind, particularly compared with the US and Asian markets. Maybe EE Times recognized the need for a European print publication if CMP is to have any chance of building the EE Times name into a truly global brand. And maybe it takes a lot more to deliver competitive advertiser value in the firmly entrenched German market? Onto the news….and Season Greetings! ====Experts join China ACE Awards judging panel==== Global Sources has named the final line-up of its judging panel for the inaugural Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards in mainland China. The awards (http://www.eetchina.com/ace) recognize semiconductor companies that enable mainland design engineers to develop more sophisticated electronics. The judges are Tsinghua University Institute of Microelectronics professor, Wei Shaojun; Gartner Dataquest Asia/Pacific Semiconductor Group principal analyst, Oliver Xu; iSuppli China director of research, Byron Wu; China Computer Federation MCU Association chairman, Chen Zhang Long; Skyworth Multimedia vice president and general manager of R&D, Wu Wei and EE Times-China editor-in-chief, Yorbe Zhang. A total of 24 awards will be presented for the Company of the Year, Product of the Year and Editor’s Choice categories. The awards, sponsored by EE Times-China, received 224 entries from 83 semiconductor companies. Global Sources will announce the winners at a gala dinner on March 5, 2007, in Shenzhen. The ceremony will coincide with the International IC-China Conference & Exhibition, a showcase of IC technologies. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Yorbe Zhang, Electronic Design-China Editor-in-Chief, \\ Sales: Bennie Hui, eMedia Associate Publisher, \\ Web: http://www.eetchina.com/ace\\ ====ed-china.com and esmchina.com unveil new look==== Electronic Design-China and Electronic Supply & Manufacturing-China have unveiled their new-look websites, ed-china.com and esmchina.com. The new-look websites feature a fresh user interface and top navigation, making it easier for design engineers and manufacturing professionals to find and access content, says the publisher, Global Sources. It is also claimed that the sites have undergone significant backend development to improve their rankings in search engines and that online advertisers benefit from the bigger, more prominent above-the-fold advertising positions that have been accommodated into the redesign. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Yorbe Zhang, editor-in-chief, Electronic Design-China, ;\\ Major Lee, managing editor, Electronic Supply and Manufacturing-China, \\ Sales: Bennie Hui, eMedia Associate Publisher, \\ Web: http://www.ed-china.com and http://www.esmchina.com ====CIE becomes EPN France==== CIE - Composants Instrumentation Electroniques - will be renamed EPN France from January 2007 to better reflect the publication’s identity and positioning as a French edition of its pan-European sister publication EPN. The website address will also change to www.epn-online.fr. The name change will be accompanied by an increase in online content with more product news uploaded to the website more frequently (daily), and more e-newsletters carrying more product news (weekly) - while the frequency of the print publication will be reduced from 8x to 7x a year, says the publisher, Reed. EPN France still claims by the highest audited, requested circulation of any electronics trade publication in France with 15,000 requested copies reaching 9,868 companies in France. The combined reach of EPN (7,240 circulation in France) and EPN France (15,000) is said by the publisher to reach 20,000 in France (a 3,000 overlap). France is still a significant electronics market and is home to Thales, Alcatel (recently acquired Lucent), Sagem, Dassault, EADS/Airbus, Alstom, Schneider, Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, and others. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Alain Dieul, editor, EPN France, \\ Advertising: Nick Walker, \\ ====Nominations being accepted for 17th Annual EDN Innovation Awards==== Nominations are now open for EDN’s 17th Annual Innovation Awards. These awards are said to honor the industry’s most outstanding engineering professionals and products. The Innovator of the Year award recognizes an electronics engineer or engineering team for innovation in product design or technical leadership. The Innovation of the Year awards recognize unique, state-of-the-art electronics products in several categories. The winners are chosen by a jury of their peers. First, EDN accepts nominations from the industry via www.edn.com/innovation. Working in panels organized by area of expertise, EDN’s technical editors select the most deserving nominees as finalists. Early in 2007, EDN will publish the names of the finalists and information about them both in print and on this site. EDN will then invite its worldwide audience of engineers and engineering managers to vote using an online ballot. The voting period lasts about one month. Finally, EDN uses a combination of these audience votes, balloting by the EDN Editorial Advisory Board, and voting by EDN’s editorial staff to determine the ultimate winners. EDN will present the awards at a ceremony held on April 2, 2007. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Maury Wright, editor-in-chief, EDN Worldwide, \\ Advertising: John Waddell, \\ Web: http://www.edn.com/innovation ====Boards & Solutions UK event on March 6, 2007==== Boards and Solutions '07 will be held at Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Reading and claims to offer a robust technical programme covering the industry's hottest trends. Last year’s conference is said to have attracted 100+ embedded professionals, who took part in 30 sessions in four parallel tracks, delivered by a number of speakers. Boards and Solutions aims to bring software and hardware vendors together and to create a program of serious presentations that discuss and debate current technical trends, applications, solutions and know-how in embedded computing. **CONTACT**\\ Organiser: Malcolm Cameron, \\ ====Conference on Evolving Architecture Standards: ATCA AMC MicroTCA==== This will be held on 25th April 2007 at RBS Williams Formula One Conference Centre, Oxfordshire, UK. Evolving Architecture Standards '07 will involve design engineers, embedded developers and technical experts. This conference will focus on forward looking engineering-related topics pertaining to ATCA, AMC, and MicroTCA . Topics will include carrier grade platforms, open standards and development tools, recognizing what MicroTCA can do for the design engineer in relation to time and cost savings. It also aims to convince non-telecoms engineers of the benefits of a common form factor, carrier grade reliability and switch-fabric flexibility resulting from ATCA and MicroTCA. As part of the day the main sponsors will be offering one-hour 'hands on' sessions in the afternoon. **CONTACT**\\ Organiser: Malcolm Cameron, \\ ====CMP announces ‘Disruption Zone’ debut at Embedded Systems Conference, Silicon Valley==== CMP has announced the West Coast debut of Disruption Zone, a forum for electronics and software companies to showcase their latest innovations in embedded technology to attendees, venture capitalists, analysts, media and other industry influencers. Originally launched earlier in the year at Embedded Systems Conference Boston, the Disruption Zone will make its first appearance at the Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley (http://www.embedded.com/esc/sv/dzone/), April 1-5, 2007 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif. The Disruption Zone aims to offer emerging companies access to leading electronics professionals through CMP Technology’s electronics group portfolio. Companies in the Disruption Zone will receive turnkey exhibit space at ESC SV as well as print and online advertising alerting attendees to their presence. Two invitation-only events will be held during ESC SV, where Disruption Zone participants will present their “disruptive technologies” to an influential audience of venture capitalists, analysts and media. A maximum of sixteen companies will be able to participate in this opportunity. To be considered for the Disruption Zone, the company must meet at least one of four requirements: their technology or service that potentially delivers a 10x improvement in an aspect of embedded design or embedded systems performance, the product may potentially change the competitive landscape and displace incumbents, the technology or service can be delivered to the field at or within three months of ESC Silicon Valley (April 2007), or the company is introducing a new business model that will change industry dynamics. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Richard Nass, editor-in-chief, Embedded Systems Design, \\ Advertising: David Blaza, publisher, Embedded System Design, \\ ====Gerhard Wolski quits as editor-in-chief of EPP Europe==== Gerhard Wolski, the freelance editor-in-chief of EPP Europe, has quit the job. He was in charge of EPP Germany and EPP Europe (Konradin Publishing Group, Germany) for more than ten years, the first five years working for both books in this position. Gerhard is no longer a member of the editorial staff. **CONTACTS**\\ Writer: Gerhard Wolski, \\ ====New additions to the Institution of Engineering and Technology advertising team==== Emma Patrick joined the IET in July this year to take over the role of advertising sales manager. Emma will largely be concentrating on new business development across the IET’s member magazines and online media. Neil Boylan has also been newly appointed as the IET’s sole USA and Canada Sales representative to increase advertising sales from the US market. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Dickon Ross, editor-in-chief, IET Technology and Engineering, \\ Advertising: Emma Patrick: \\ ====Electronics Sourcing (UK) increases publishing frequency==== Electronics Sourcing, the UK magazine aimed at electronics buyers, will increase its publishing frequency from 10 to 12 times per annum in 2007. Publisher, Mark Leary, said: “Electronics Sourcing has seen tremendous growth during 2006. The title is now underpinned by a loyal advertising base, making the decision to increase frequency an easy one. As an example of growth in the electronics purchasing sector, Electronics Sourcing’s January annual edition has leapt from a healthy 100-pages in 2006, to a whopping 148-pages planned for 2007.” Electronics Sourcing’s editor, Jon Barrett added: “The increased page count and frequency scheduled for 2007 is excellent news for the magazine’s newsdesk and readers alike. It has allowed a significant expansion of the editorial features list, in particular the introduction of four new sourcing-focused supplements covering PCBs, electro-mechanical components, outsourcing and obsolescence.” **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Jon Barrett, editor, \\ Advertising: Mark Leary, publisher, \\ ====New Electronics (UK) gets new associate editor==== Mike Richardson joins New Electronics as associate editor on January 8, 2007. Mike was previously editor of Electronics Buyer and has many years’ experience in the electronics industry. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Graham Pitcher, editor, \\ Advertising: Peter Ring, publisher, \\ ====Stefanie Eckardt joins Elektronik Journal as trainee editor==== Elektronik Journal (Germany) has appointed Stefanie Eckardt as trainee editor. Stefanie finished her studies at the University of Applied Science 5 years ago and has since worked for both PR agencies and publishers, gaining experience in both aspects of technical publicity. She specializes in electro-mechanical components and power supplies at Elektronik Journal. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Stefanie Eckardt, trainee editor, \\ Advertising: Tim Anstee, \\ ====Trafalgar Publications launch Global SMT & Packaging – Hungary==== Trafalgar Publications is expanding its Global SMT & Packaging title with a range of strategic partnerships that will create a number of local language, online editions, says the publisher. The first of these, Global SMT & Packaging - Hungary was launched in November and comprises a Hungarian language website and monthly newsletter. The newsletter is delivered to 3,500 readers in the Hungarian electronics manufacturing community and is operated under licence by Heiling Media Kft. Publisher, Trevor Galbraith said "We are delighted with our new partnership with Heiling Media Kft. They contribute expert technical translation, local news and a knowledge of the Hungarian market. This, combined with the knowledge we have gained working in Hungary with our CEMCON events and our relationships with international advertisers wanting access to this market, has proved a winning combination". He added that plans are already well advanced to launch similar website/newsletters in Japan and China in January, with an Indian site due early in the New Year. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Trevor Galbraith, editor-in-chief, \\ Web: http://www.globalsmt.net ====IET announces Appleton Lecture entitled ‘Wireless Communications – Challenges and Choices.’==== The 42nd Appleton Lecture and Dinner takes place at the IET, Savoy Place, London on Thursday 11 January 2007. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Michael Walker FREng, Director of Group Research & Development Vodafone Group Services Limited and Dr Frances Cairncross, Rector of Exeter College, Oxford and is entitled ‘Wireless Communications – Challenges and Choices.’ The lecture will examine what we can expect as we head into a new wave of wireless and Internet communications. It will look at the drivers for change and choice - from a technical, commercial, regulatory and user perspective. It will look to see whether different parts of the world will be different, and it will consider who might be in the driving seat. In short, the lecture will look at what communications technology might make possible and what we might as users do with it - if indeed we know. **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://www.theiet.org/appleton ====New rep for Markt & Technik and Design & Elektronik==== WEKA has announced the appointment of Veronique Lamarque as exclusive rep for North America for both Markt & Technik and Design & Elektronik. Veronique has over a decade of experience in the international hi-tech publishing industry with IDG Communications coupled with a thorough understanding of the European marketplace. Veronique also represents a number of prominent Asian Electronics publications. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Peter Wintermayr, editor-in-chief, Markt & Technik, ;\\ Caspar Groethe, editor-in-chief, Deisgn & Elektronik, \\ Advertising: Veronique Lamarque, ====Elektronik to publish Embedded World special issue in February 2007==== Elektronik, which publisher WEKA says is the official media partner and most read title of the embedded world visitors, will publish the Embedded Issue of Elektronik 3/2007 (Ad closing date: Jan 16th), the Special Issue System-on-Chip 1/2007 (Ad closing date: Jan 18th) and Elektronik Automotive 1/2007 (Ad closing date: Jan 22nd). **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Guenther Klasche, editor-in-chief, Elektronik, \\ Advertising: Sonja Diehl, ====Elektronik Praxis (Germany) adds to editorial team==== Thomas Kuther has joined Elektronik Praxis as editor – we don’t have an official press release but understand that Thomas will specialize in the embedded market, amongst others. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Thomas Kuther, \\ Advertising: Mark Hauser, marketing and sales director, ====Electropages launches RSS news feed==== UK based electronic products website, Electropages has launched rselectronics.com, which the publisher, Craig Dyball, describes as “a one-stop portal to access the very latest electronics product news via RSS technology.” Users can monitor most electronics media websites using rsselectronics.com and companies are invited to load their own RSS feeds into the new web site. **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://www.rsselectronics.com ====SOAPBOX==== Our most prolific soapboxer, Rolf Sylvester-Hvid of Aktuel Eletkronik, thinks that printed publications have a lot to offer recruitment advertisers. Here’s what he says…. With the electronics business booming in Denmark, many companies have found it difficult to increase the workforce with skilled engineers and technicians. But obviously there's always someone out there who'd like to swap a present position for a new job, and Aktuel Elektronik has proven itself as a very good platform for job ads in the electronics business. The tabloid format, the very short production time and the - mostly weekly - frequency places Aktuel Elektronik side by side with more conventional job-ad media like the daily newspapers or the union-sponsored weekly publications. However, using an electronics newspaper for the purpose has shown some very convincing side-affects. Obviously, Aktuel Elektronik is read mainly by professionals within the electronics business and this is a somewhat narrow target group. Hence, the companies looking for new collegues will typically receive around five applications per job-ad - but all from highly qualified people. Publishing job-ads has only been going on in Aktuel Elektronik for about a year, but every single company using this type of advertising have come back for seconds. Job-ads in electronic journals work, and this market is growing generically without any particular effort from the sales-staff. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Rolf Sylvester-Hvid, editor-in-chief, \\ Advertising: Ulla Molter, sales manager, \\