Craig C. Ramsey, Ph.D., General Manager, CyberOptics Semiconductor, Inc.

In 2010, both the economy and chip demand will be driven by various forces: growth of the smartphone and netbook markets; adoption of Windows 7; growth in the display market and the emerging markets for alternative energy and hybrid vehicles.

At a time when manufacturers face margin pressure, shrinking tolerances and reduced infrastructure, we'll see our industry leverage the recovering demand and employ technologies that directly raise production and yield.

The widespread closure of fabs and staff reductions that occurred last year will heighten demand for suppliers that enable more reliable and faster automation and more robust and reproducible process control.

For our part in 2009, as in previous down cycles, we maintained our technology development initiatives. We expanded our WaferSense product line by developing a sensor for airborne particles and software that reduces the end-user skills needed to solve vibration-related yield loss and downtime.

We also sampled 450 mm wafer-like sensors to support the industry's push for enhanced productivity in the next-generation fab through ISMI's 450 mm program.

As the majority of consumers, who never lost their jobs, start to spend again and optimism supplants fear, let's -- as an industry -- move forward in 2010!