18
RESEARCH NEWS
IMEC extends research
leadership
IMEC has received surprisingly negative local press about the
amount of funding the organisation receives from the
government. At this year’s annual pre-ARMM press conference, Gilbert Declerck,
David Ridsdale found a world class research continuing its
Chief Executive
Officer IMEC
excellent progress while responding to local concerns
I
MEC has always been proud of its resent the amount of support provided Property (IP), risk and costs. The ground
independence from shareholders and have accused IMEC of not giving rules are succinctly laid out in IMEC’s
and the money markets. Nearly enough back to the community. As a Industrial Affiliation Programmes (IIAP)
twenty five years ago IMEC was response to this criticism the last two that form the basis for R&D
conceived as a non profit organisation led years have seen IMEC present data that collaboration. Companies that participate
by Prof. R. Van Overstraeten with highlights the benefits to the local region can develop customised R&D whilst
delegates from industry, universities and (Image 1) of a world leading research working within a partnership and IMEC
the Flemish Government to strengthen the centre. The local concern regarding IMEC technology can be transferred to
almost non existent microelectronics has to do with the perceived lack of spin participants. Generic results are shared
industry in Flanders. Since then IMEC off companies and licensing in comparison between partners who work within an
has been transformed into a world leading to the funding provided. The initial IMEC based group. IMEC has developed
organisation that has participation from investment for the first year was 62 M€ this model into international markets with
all corners of the world and has generated and in 2008 the Flanders contribution offices in the USA, China and Taiwan as
enormous benefit for the region. was 42 M€. Although this sounds a great well as representation and partnerships in
As with any government supported deal it is only 17% of the 260 M€ all major manufacturing areas.
ventures, IMEC has had local critics who revenue for the year. From its humble
beginnings IMEC constantly moves closer Updated Progress
to self sufficiency. One of the main purposes of IMEC’s
Preparing the material to answer local ARMM conference is to discuss the
critics obviously was a success as IMEC progress in the many areas of research
and Flanders agreed to a new framework they conduct. IMEC divides its research
of funding last year that will see the into two main themes. First there is More
regional government provide 210 M€ to Moore which is research into the
IMEC up to 2011 out of a total expected continued scaling of semiconductors. The
revenue of 1.2 B€. A number of other stream of research is known as
presentations discussed upcoming More than Moore and focuses on
opportunities for companies to be combining heterogeneous functionality on
developed around some promising chips. These two streams have expanded
technologies and these should appease into a staggering number of projects with
critics. The expectations on IMEC are almost 1600 staff working with
based on mainstream research representatives from the partner
opportunities but IMEC has developed a companies. In 2007 alone IMEC
unique organisation that achieves global published and presented nearly 1569
success and has become an industry papers at various events.
leader in leading edge research. IMEC announced new research
As a research institute IMEC needs to activities on resistive RAM (RRAM) cells
be able to attract as many industry in order to explore solutions in
players to their endeavours as possible. overcoming scaling limitations of
IMEC has developed a true multinational conventional Flash memory cells. RRAM
organisation that engages every level of is becoming of interest for future scaled
Image 1: Local impact of IMEC’s the industry and avoids inter-company memories because of their superior
activities in the Flemish region disagreements regarding Intellectual intrinsic scaling characteristics compared
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com November 2008
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