Global Citizenship: Together for a Perfect PCB Solution
Smart Automation: Odd-form Assembly—Dedicated Insertion Equipment Matters
Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award Presented to Hiroyuki Watanabe, NEC Corporation, at IPC APEX EXPO 2025
March 24, 2025 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award was presented to Hiroyuki Watanabe, NEC Corporation, an IPC Board Member and long-time volunteer, at IPC APEX EXPO 2025 in Anaheim, California. The award is given to members who have fostered a collaborative spirit, made significant contributions to standards development, and have consistently demonstrated a commitment to global standardization efforts.
A member of the IPC Board of Directors since 2020, Watanabe is an expert in security and international economics. He has presented papers at IPC APEX EXPO, published white papers for the IPC Thought Leaders Program, presented at the IPC Engineering Webinar Series, held individual webinars for members in Japan, and introduced IPC’s initiatives at the Counterfeit Symposium. He serves on the IPC-1792 Cyber Security Standards Committee, is an Asia Task Group member, is an active participant in IPC’s Thought Leadership Program, and is a member of the 2-10-AT3 A-Team, The Strategy Seekers.
As part of the award, Watanabe bestowed the Dieter Bergman Memorial scholarship upon Niigata University in Niigata, Japan.
“Watanabe-San epitomizes the spirit of fellowship of the Dieter Bergman Fellowship Award, in leading and working with committee volunteers from around the world and is a valued board member and industry thought leader,” said John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. “We are fortunate that he has chosen to share his substantial talent and expertise with IPC and the global electronics industry.”
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Building Electronics Excellence in India
09/08/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineFor over two decades, Dave Bergman has helped steer the Global Electronics Association’s work in India, from a single training course to a thriving regional operation with deep government and industry ties. In this interview, Dave explains how the group went from partnering with IPCA to opening its own office in 2010, creating India’s first domestic electronics manufacturing standard, and securing funding for dozens of Indian companies to attend U.S. trade shows.
New Podcast Episode Drop: MKS’ Atotech’s Role in Optimize the Interconnect
09/08/2025 | I-Connect007In this episode of On the Line With…, host Nolan Johnson sits down with Patrick Brooks, MKS' Atotech's Global Product Director, EL Systems, to discuss the critical role that wet processes play alongside laser systems in advancing the Optimize the InterconnectSM initiative. Brooks points to Bondfilm as a key example—a specialized coating that enables CO₂ lasers to ablate more effectively than ever before.
The Global Electronics Association Hosts Successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar
09/03/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationOn August 22, 2025, the Global Electronics Association hosted the successful WorksAsia-AI and Factory of the Future Technical Seminar during the exhibition Automation Taipei 2025. The seminar brought together 81 representatives from 58 companies, focusing on the latest applications of AI in smart factories and unveiling four key directions that will drive the electronics industry’s transition toward intelligence and sustainability.
TRI's AI-Powered Inspection Solutions at SMTAI 2025
09/02/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading provider of test and inspection systems, will be joining the SMTA International Exposition & Conference. The event will be held from October 21 – 23, 2025, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, USA.
More Than a Competition: Instilling a Champion's Skill in IPC Masters China 2025
09/01/2025 | Evelyn Cui, Global Electronics Association—East AsiaNearly 500 elite professionals from the electronics industry, representing 18 provinces and municipalities across China, competed in the 2025 IPC Masters Competition China, March 26–28, in Pudong, Shanghai. A total of 114 contestants advanced to the practical competition after passing the IPC Standards Knowledge Competition. Sixty people competed in the Hand Soldering and Rework Competition (HSRC), 30 in the Cable and Wire Harness Assembly Competition (CWAC), and 24 in the Ball Grid Array/Bottom Termination Components (BGA/BTC) Rework Competition.