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| >> Philosophy April, 2001 Top |
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In 1944, during my younger days, I had the good fortune to become a member
of Japan's first research group to conduct basic research in the field
of semiconductors. This was during my employment with the Jindai Laboratories,
a branch of the Electro Testing Laboratories (ETL). (The Japanese name
of ETL was changed in 1970 from "Denki-Shikenjo" [Electrical Testing Laboratory] to "Denshi-Gijutsu Sogo Kenkyujo" [Electronic Technology Research Institute]; the English name remained
unchanged.) At that time, even the transistor had not yet been invented.
While I was working with this basic research group, I came to realize the
importance of fundamental research in areas such as quantum theory, solid-state
theory, and materials research, and I was able to foresee, to some extent,
what the future held in store for the electronics industry. I consequently
turned my attention to the importance of measurement technology in the
context of semiconductor research and in the electronics and information
industries, and founded a business to manufacture electronic measurement
devices.
In 1955 - a time when many people still carried the misconception that
"direct current cannot be amplified" - we succeeded in developing
a 1 picoampare(1x10 A) full-scale current-sensitive DC ammeter based on a DC amplifier, and
a vibrating reed electrometer with a current-detection sensitivity of 3x10 A. These devices proved useful in the research and development of polymeric
materials, semiconductor materials, and transistors.
In 1968, during the heyday of bipolar ICs, we began the development of
an IC tester, following the advice of specialists in semiconductor device
engineering who advised, "The future is CMOS, and we need a tester
that can perform timing measurements and functional tests at operating
limit speeds." The prototype was completed in 1970.
Over the course of the past fifty years, we have seen how engineering knowledge
derived from semiconductor research has brought well-being for people throughout
the world. Meanwhile, the company that I founded - Takeda Riken Industry
Co., Ltd. (currently called Advantest Corporation) - has developed into
one of the world's top-rated companies.
Engineering intellect and knowledge, fostered through a network that overcomes
the boundaries of technical fields and organizations, is polished and refined
within the market mechanism of capitalism to become a form of intellect
that brings value to mankind. It was this belief, and the personal experiences
I have just described, that have led me to establish a Foundation whose
mission will be to encourage those individuals endeavoring to contribute
to society through the development and application of engineering intellect/knowledge,
by presenting awards and grants that will be known to the people of the
world as the Techno-Entrepreneurship Award. |
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