A "network of excellence" has been created in silicon microelectronics manufacturing technology to coordinate integrated circuit processing expertise and resources at five major research and development centres in the United Kingdom. Network members are: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; the universities of Edinburgh, Southampton and Surrey; and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Malvern. Between them the centres boast expertise in areas such as lithography, integrated circuit fabrication and analysis, silicon epitaxy and ion implantation.