NCM Corp, Santa Clara, California has applied for permission from the US government to establish a joint venture to manufacture and market bipolar integrated circuits for consumer and industrial applications in Hungary, creating what is claimed would be Hungary’s first private technology firm. MCM hopes to have the venture up and running by the second half of next year. According to Newsbytes, the $60m plant will hardly be leading edge because it will use 1960s technology will be used because it is the most likely to be approved by the US authorities, and while the bipolar planar technology is adequate for components for consumer electronics products but is not suitable for military applications. Of the $60m, $32m would be used for capital equipment, and 95% of that would be spent on US-made equipment. A 60,000 square foot facility is being built on a 30-acre industrial park in Budapest. The Hungarian partner in the venture, called Interbip, is Okisz, the National Council of Industrial Co-operatives in Budapest; backers include Budapest Bank, Hiradastechnika Co-operative, Trade-Co-op, the National Committee for Industrial Development, and the Co-operative for Telecommunications.NCM will also have marketing rights for the products outside Eastern Europe. The request for approval is now with the Department of Defense.