Sematech, SUNY-Albany Announce $320-403M Research Center

Plans for a joint five-year $320-$403 million program to accelerate the development of next generation lithography were announced Thursday by International SEMATECH (ISMT) and The University at Albany-SUNY (UAlbany).

ISMT and UAlbany have signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations on the formation of a strategic alliance, to be known as International SEMATECH North (ISMTN), to conduct research and development in the area of advanced lithography infrastructure for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. As currently envisioned, the alliance will initiate a program in EUV infrastructure, to be managed by International SEMATECH and housed in UAlbany's state-of-the-art 300mm wafer cleanroom complex, part of the university's Albany NanoTech center.

At yesterday's press announcement, ISMT president and CEO Bob Helms noted that the technical challenges faced by the semiconductor industry are too great for any single organization, nation or region to solve alone and that the consortium has engaged in a series of collaborative partnerships around the world to share the risks and rewards of technology research and development. Helms was joined in the announcement by New York Governor George E. Pataki and Alain Kaloyeros, executive director of Albany NanoTech.

According to Helms, this alliance allows ISMT to significantly leverage its resources and increase the scope of its programs in an area that is critical to the industry.

UAlbany has a record of growth and industry support over the past decade. Since 1992, its R&D funding has grown fifty-fold, and UAlbany has engaged in various national, industry, and state-funded R&D initiatives. With the construction of two new 300mm cleanroom facilities, one to be completed by the end of 2002 and the other by the end of 2003, UAlbany is one of the centerpieces of Governor George E. Pataki's initiative to encourage the growth of  high-tech companies and jobs in New York.

The range of $320-$403 million in the project's value is based on conflicting reports, including a Sematech press release that sets the project at $320 million and two New York Times stories. The Times reported the state of New York has committed $210 million over five years while Sematech will provide $193 million, for a total of $403 million. The state's contribution must be approved by the State Legislature.

Contract negotiations for the center will begin immediately, and both parties hope to have a final agreement on the strategic alliance by the end of the third quarter of this year. Under the agreement, ISMT will provide technical program definition, execution, management, and staffing, UAlbany will provide facilities and funding leverage, and both entities will share in the executive management of the program and the procurement of equipment and materials as defined by the ISMT management team.

"The agreement under discussion will place a world-class R&D initiative here at UAlbany," said Kaloyeros. "We're committed to this important industry-university collaboration, and look forward to working with ISMT as a premier strategic partner to generate an excellent return on investment for New York State and International SEMATECH."

More information is available at: http://www.sematech.org/public/news/releases/albany1.htm