Royal Philips Electronics and IMEC, one of the world's leading independent research centres in nanoelectronics, signed an agreement that extends Philips' access to IMEC's advanced research facilities and expertise until the end of 2008.
The agreement, which will run for five years, replaces an existing agreement that was scheduled to finish by mid 2005, and closely follows Philips' decision last year to
become a core partner in IMEC's sub-45nm CMOS research program. Philips through its Philips Research Leuven organisation will further extend joint research of specialized semiconductor processes with IMEC. In addition Philips and IMEC will engage in joint research and development of advanced CMOS technologies in preparation for continued process development with Philips' Crolles2 Alliance partners.
Philips now works with IMEC on three levels - (i) as a core partner in IMEC's sub 45-nm CMOS research program and in JRP with IMEC on a 45 nm CMOS Research Program (in preparation for continued semiconductor process development within the Philips/Motorola/STMicroelectronics Crolles2 Alliance); (ii) as an individual partner with IMEC in the development of Philips-specific special process technologies; and (iii) as a valued contributor to discussions over the future direction of semiconductor research at IMEC.
"Thanks to our previous collaboration with IMEC, important differentiators, such as our world-beating RF BiCMOS processes, our highly effective non-volatile embedded memory solutions and our best-in-class TrenchMOS devices, have been made possible," said Theo Claasen, executive vice president Technology and Strategy, Philips Semiconductors. "This new agreement with IMEC therefore represents an important part of our strategy to keep Philips in a highly competitive position at the forefront of the semiconductor industry."