A paradigm shift: the emerging role of professional societies in developing technology

We are exploring new strategic opportunities to advance the knowledge base in microelectronic and photonics packaging technology that, increasingly, professional societies such as the ASME, IMAPS and the IEEE will be uniquely positioned to fill. In a larger sense, the case being made applies to the entire cross-section of electrical engineering and computer science R&D that the IEEE represents. A major paradigm shift for R&D management and support in the 21/sup st/ century is forecast that will create new centers of excellence managed from within the engineering and scientific professions. Dramatic shifts from the current industrial-academic-government partnerships can be expected.