The $30-million facility, which will form part of the AlbaCampus in Livingston, Scotland, will focus on "embedded software"and "system on chip" (SOC) technology, according to Motorolaofficials. SOC technology increases the number and range offunctions for a product such as a mobile phone by integrating itsmajor components onto a single silicon chip.

Motorola, which has had operations in Scotland for more than 30years, will house some operations in temporary space at the AlbaCampus until its 50,000-sf facility is completed in early 2002. Anadditional 50,000 sf of space will be added by 2004.

Motorola's systems design operations manager, Michael Kay, saysthat one important reason for locating the facility in Livingstonwas the number of educational facilities nearby. For example, hecites the Institute for System Level Integration as a "key factorin our decision to bring this project to Scotland as we need accessto high-quality graduates and experienced engineers."