Micron Joins IMEC’s Core Program

Staff Reporter -- Electronic News, 7/11/2006

IMEC, the European independent nanoelectronics and nanotechnology research institute, today announces that Micron Technology Inc. has joined its (sub)-32nm CMOS research platform as core partner.

Micron, the United States-based memory giant, will also participate within IMEC's advanced flash program.

"We are excited that Micron joins both our core and advanced flash memory program. Up to now, IMEC's (sub)-32nm CMOS research program focused mainly on logic with SRAM as demonstrator cell. Our program is now expanded with one of the world's leading memory and imaging companies," said Gilbert Declerck, president and CEO of IMEC, in a statement. "We are looking forward to an extensive, long-term partnership with Micron and are convinced that the know-how and expertise of Micron will be of great value for our global platform."

With Micron’s membership, IMEC now counts nine of the world's leading IC manufacturers or foundries in its core program, with Infineon, Intel, Matsushita/Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and TSMC making up the eight others collaborating in IMEC's state-of-the-art 300mm research facilities to overcome the ITRS challenges for the (sub)-32nm node.

"We believe the technology challenges facing our industry today are best addressed by an approach which includes sharing broad-range, basic research to help efficiently focus valuable internal resources on core development,” said Scott DeBoer, Micron's director of process development, in the statement. "IMEC provides a proven environment for accomplishing the necessary long range research in many of our areas of interest. We are very pleased to engage in this strategic partnership, which will help enable us to continue delivering the world's most innovative memory and imaging technology to our customers."

IMEC made today’s announcement at Semicon West tradeshow, one of the capital equipment industry’s most relevant events, held this year in San Francisco.