EU support for new nanoelectronics research platform in Dresden

It takes concerted efforts by science and industry to maximize the benefits of synergies between research, development and production with respect to process technologies for nanoelectronics. The Fraunhofer-Center Nanoelectronic Technologies CNT is a public-private partnership between the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Infineon Technologies AG and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), and forms part of a newly established research platform for nanoelectronics representing a total investment value of 700 million euro. The European Commission has granted funding of 232.5 million euro towards this research and development project, including 48 million euro from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for plant and equipment for the initial phase of the CNT.

"In this age of extremely short product and technology life cycles, innovative process solutions need to be transferred rapidly to manufacturing practice. The Fraunhofer Center is Dresden's answer to this challenge, adding a new concept to a location that already has an outstanding reputation in microelectronics," says CNT director Dr. Peter Kücher, describing the aims of the research platform. Dresden's ambition is to become the third European center of advanced research in nanoelectronics, alongside LETI in Grenoble, France, and IMEC in Leuven, Belgium. "The CNT is an integral part of the Fraunhofer Microelectronics Alliance and will gradually be developed into a platform serving nanotechnologists in industry and in applied and basic research," states Kücher.

The new center, with premises on Infineon's research and manufacturing site in Dresden, was inaugurated in May 2005 by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Infineon, AMD, and funding authorities - the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the Free State of Saxony. The CNT provides 800 m² of cleanroom facilities and an infrastructure designed to industrial standards.

For further information:

Dr. Peter Kücher
Tel. +49 351 2607-3000
Email: peter.kuecher@cnt.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer-Center Nanoelektronische Technologien
CNT
Königsbrücker Straße 180
01099 Dresden
www.cnt.fraunhofer.de

Cornelia Sonntag
Tel. 03 51/2 77 10 10
Email: cornelia.sonntag@amd.com
AMD
Wilschdorfer Landstraße 101
01109 Dresden

Diana Rulle
Tel. 03 51 / 8 86-11 00
Email: diana.rulle@infineon.com
Infineon
Königsbrücker Straße 180
01099 Dresden

http://www.fraunhofer.de/fhg/EN/press/pi/2006/04/PressRelease19.04.2006.jsp