Those areas need breakthroughs that can differentiate products and create value for manufacturers. Europe is well ahead of the United States in the wireless market, as the worldwide leadership of companies like Ericsson and Nokia shows. Analog demands high skills and rewards accordingly. New graduates with analog skills are in greater demand and can obtain better-paying jobs than those who focused exclusively on digital coursework. Analog also offers a good grounding in all engineering, making it easier for an analog engineer to pick up digital or software skills than vice versa.
Money is needed to support more analog teaching and research.
While some funding comes from companies that have an interest in analog training, universities must also put their own resources behind analog technology. U.S. companies will be more successful if they can recruit the analog talent they need close to home, and American universities will remain preeminent if they provide the right training for a strong native industry. All rights reserved.