This chapter considers two different aspects of the work of the semiconductor manufacturing industry separately. Firstly, a discussion of the growth of the industry and its relationship to science and technology; and secondly, a consideration of economic factors, operating within a social and political framework, which have contributed to the manner in which the industry has developed within various nation states, and ending with a brief speculation regarding future possible developments.

Inspec keywords: economics; social sciences; semiconductor device manufacture; politics

Other keywords: economic factors; political framework; semiconductor manufacturing industry growth; social framework

Subjects: Production facilities and engineering