TECHNOLOGY - March 13, 1996

Electronics Firms Launch Manufacturing Initiative: A group of leading companies that includes AT&T; Corp., Compaq Computer Corp., Electronic Data Systems Inc., General Electric Co., IBM Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Motorola Inc. will announce in Los Angeles today a public-private partnership aimed at improving the nation’s electronics manufacturing capabilities. The new organization, called the National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, will help coordinate existing government programs related to manufacturing technology and steer private-sector money into critical areas, including flip-chip packaging, interconnection substrates, board assembly, final assembly and energy storage systems. Funding for the group’s projects will approach $80 million for 1996 and 1997, its first two years of operation.