Europe-based independent nanoelectronics and nanotechnology research institute IMEC this week strengthen its reach in India, signing two separate memorandum of understandings (MOU).
IMEC has inked a MOU with SemIndia Ltd., enacting plans to expand its R&D collaborations with Indian semiconductor companies and institutes.
According to IMEC, SemIndia intends to set up a semiconductor foundry in 2007 with production ramp up beginning of 2009 and with IMEC as a strategic fab technology research partner. Initial collaboration would focus on developing foundry-compatible 130nm and 90nm CMOS processes for logic and mixed-signal products. In a second phase, SemIndia intends to collaborate with IMEC on the 65nm and 45nm semiconductor processes.
IMEC has also signed an MOU with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore to perform joint research on various nanoelectronics process steps. IISc has recently set up an international nano-science centre for R&D projects in nanotechnology applications. IMEC and the IISc intend to perform joint research on new materials for sub-45nm CMOS technologies, as well as nanotechnology for what they have dubbed "the post-CMOS era." In addition, RF-CMOS and MEMS have been identified as potential joint research topics. PhD students and researchers will be exchanged and the use of facilities will be shared between the two institutes.
IMEC said its initiative to strengthen its position on the Indian semiconductor market comes in the wake of India's plans to give a major boost to the semiconductor industry by expanding nanotechnology R&D at the international science and technology centers and by setting up modern semiconductor fabrication facilities.
"India's booming economy and microelectronics market, its large, highly educated workforce and sound legal framework for intellectual property protection form the basic ingredients for successful R&D collaborations with mutual benefits," Gilbert Declerck, president and CEO of IMEC, said in a statement.
IMEC has gained collaborators in the United States in recent months, as well. This past summer, Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc. joined IMEC's sub-32nm CMOS research platform as a core partner.
