Sharp Corp, Japan, yesterday announced an investment of some UKP10m for a European research and development establishment, Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd, at the Oxford Science Park, the first of its kind for Sharp outside Japan. Areas of research will include optoelectonics, information processing using artificial intelligence and electronic materials to be used to develop new products for the UK and other European markets. 60% of UK-manufactured products are exported at present and Sharp president Hauro Tsuji hopes that this will increase. For the Department of Trade & Industry and the Government, Minister Eric Forth welcomed the move, seeing it forming a foundation for increasing manufacture by UK plants, and hoping that it will encourage other investors. The lab will start with 30 scientists in temporary premises and grow to 50 to 100.
