Globalfoundries is to collaborate with Imec on the development of process technology for sub-22nm CMOS scaling and GaN-on-Si technology.
The foundry has signed up as a core CMOS partner for the Belgium-based research centre.
Imec’s sub-22nm core CMOS programme incorporates material and device studies. It also looks at the tool and device characterisation for next generation process technology.
This comes at a time when the European Commission seems to have had a change of heart, believing that manufacturing semiconductors in Europe is important.
“We will also closely collaborate on EUV lithography, device technology for logic and memory, nano-interconnects and 3D integration,” said Globalfoundries.
It will also work with other integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), foundries, fabless and fablite companies, equipment and material suppliers who are part of the imec research ecosystem.
Jean Therme, director of CEA-Grenoble and chairman of the European Key Enabling Technologies high level group, told the ISS-SEMI conference in Grenoble in February: "The commission wants to make possible the siting of fabs in Europe," Therme told the conference.
Europe’s share of the world’s fabs has been declining, said Therme, with only three 300mm fabs - Intel’s in Ireland, ST’s at Crolles and Globalfoundries in Dresden.
Collectively Europe has the capacity to fab 1,453,679 eight inch equivalent wafers per month, said Therme, which is about the same as TSMC’s capacity.
www.imec.be