Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "AMI Semiconductor and IMEC Enter Into Development Collaboration for Next Generation Smart Power Technologies"

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Abstract:
Two Year Program Takes Relationship to New Level

AMI Semiconductor and IMEC Enter Into Development Collaboration for Next Generation Smart Power Technologies

POCATELLO, ID | Posted on January 28th, 2008

AMI Semiconductor (NASDAQ:AMIS), a leading designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art mixed-signal and digital products for the automotive, medical, industrial, aerospace, and high-voltage communication markets, has entered into a new two-year collaboration program with IMEC - Europe's leading independent research center in the field of nanoelectronics - to develop AMI Semiconductor's future Smart Power Technologies.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMIS will develop critical and novel Smart Power processes and devices in IMEC's advanced 200mm facilities, and use IMEC's know-how and experience in deep submicron process technology. A team of on-site AMIS engineers will jointly work with IMEC engineers in the IMEC premises in Leuven, Belgium, in close collaboration with the AMIS Smart Power team in Oudenaarde, Belgium.

Christine King, CEO of AMIS, states that IMEC is the right partner to support their future Smart Power development programs: "This collaborative agreement will allow us to develop our next generation I4T Smart Power Technology platform while protecting our differentiating and critical IP. IMEC is the ideal collaborative partner because of its advanced infrastructure, its outstanding engineering competences, and its business model. Furthermore, being close to our Smart Power team in Oudenaarde is an important asset."

AMIS has collaborated with IMEC on a number of developments during the last twenty years. The new agreement takes the relationship between the two companies to a new level by moving, for the first time, part of the AMIS advanced technology R&D into IMEC's own premises. I4T will be the fourth generation of the AMIS Smart Power Technology platform. This platform allows the integration of high voltage and power functions with dense logic, processors and memories into a single device. The I4T platform will enable complex system-on-chip (SoC) Smart Power systems for next generation automotive, power regulation, and communications applications.

Gilbert Declerck, the IMEC CEO, states: "IMEC is happy to strengthen, with this cooperation agreement, the activities of AMIS in the Flemish region of Belgium. The new project with AMIS fits IMEC's CMORE program, targeted at R&D for new fabrication processes and device technologies focusing on performance and new functions, rather than further scaling of transistors."

CMORE makes use of IMEC's state-of-the-art 200mm processing facility with a 130/90nm CMOS platform technology. As part of CMORE program IMEC is developing, amongst other projects, SiGe-based integrated MEMS processes and devices, thin film technology for integrated passive components and submicron SOI- (silicon on insulator-) based photonic devices.

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About AMI Semiconductor
AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art mixed-signal and digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers in the automotive, medical, industrial, mil/aero, and HV communication markets with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, please visit the AMIS Web site at www.amis.com.

About IMEC

IMEC is a world-leading independent research center in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology. Its research focuses on the next generations of chips and systems, and on the enabling technologies for ambient intelligence. IMEC’s research bridges the gap between fundamental research at universities and technology development in industry. Its unique balance of processing and system know-how, intellectual property portfolio, state-of-the-art infrastructure and its strong network of companies, universities and research institutes worldwide position IMEC as a key partner for shaping technologies for future systems.

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Contacts:
AMIS U.S. Editorial:
AMI Semiconductor
Tamera Drake, 208-234-6890

or
Cain Communications
Susan Cain, 503-538-2747

or
AMIS European Editorial:
Pinnacle Marketing
Simon Flatt, +44.20.8869.9229

Nicky Wheaton, +44.20.8869.9229

or
IMEC Editorial:
IMEC
Katrien Marent, +32 16 281 880