An expanding hi-tech firm is looking to lead the development of specialised electronic engineering in Oxfordshire.

Julius Georgiou, head of the micro-power division, with one of Toumaz Technology's integrated circuits

Keith Errey, chief executive of Toumaz Technology, based at the Culham Innovation Centre, says that while the sector has been successfully developed in Cambridge and other areas such as Swindon, the county has not yet been directly involved.

But Mr Errey believes there is now a lot of work being done at Oxford University in the electronics field which could be successfully commercialised. He said: "There has been a lot of electronics and design work elsewhere but we are one of the first of this type to be based in Oxfordshire.

"We are expanding and I would like this company to become an arm in developing what could be one of the area's biggest industries."

Toumaz Technology was the first company to move into the Culham Innovation Centre, near Abingdon, in February last year. It recently moved to bigger premises, taking on eight more employees to take the staff to 10.

The company designs integrated circuits which use much less power than any other digital device available.

They have a variety of uses -- a Canadian trial included cochlea implants in tiny hearing aids, removing the need for an external power source.

The technology can also be used in tiny sensor devices to measure temperature or pressure, or to power scanners which identify people through the iris of their eye.

Set up by Mr Errey and Prof Chris Toumazou, the firm exploits technology ddeveloped at Imperial College, London, and has raised £1.5m in funding from private and venture capital investors.

They chose the Culham Innovation Centre because it offered ideal accommodation within easy reach of London.

Centre manager Barbara Allsworth said she was delighted to see the centre's first firm expanding its operations.