Imec Technology Forum Japan (Tokyo, Japan)—Nov. 17, 2014—Today, nanoelectronics research center imec announced that SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of advanced systems for the semiconductor industry, has joined imec’s suppliers hub for joint R&D in cleaning, wet etch and advanced lithography coat/develop processing.

 
In today’s consolidating semiconductor landscape, equipment and material suppliers are playing a key role in collectively tackling the scaling challenges posed by today’s fast-evolving, equipment-intensive industry. Strong R&D interactions between manufacturers and suppliers at an early stage of development help to accelerate technology advancements, allowing for efficient cost sharing, minimalized risk, and optimized the return on investment for semiconductor manufacturers and equipment suppliers.

“Imec’s supplier hub aims to offer a neutral, open innovation R&D platform that involves suppliers more deeply and at an early stage of process step and module development,” said Luc Van den hove, president and CEO at imec. “SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions’ advanced lithography track, cleaning and etching tools are paramount to imec’s research platform on advanced semiconductor process technologies, and we are extremely pleased to strengthen our ecosystem with this global player, following other major companies who have also recently joined imec’s supplier hub.”

“Our extended imec collaboration enables SCREEN to perform joint state-of-the-art R&D and continue to provide innovative solutions for advance semiconductor manufacturing,” said Tadahiro Suhara, President of SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions. “The supplier hub environment facilitates our early development in front and back end-of-line cleaning as well as lithography patterning technologies for the 7nm node and beyond.”

Suppliers joining imec’s supplier hub have the ability to assess their tools on product stacks, develop process control, hardware/software options and integrate new materials. As part of the joint R&D agreement, SCREEN will advance process development on their AquaSpin SU-3200 single wafer cleaners for FEOL and BEOL applications as well as SOKUDO DUO coat/develop track processes for lithography patterning.
 
 
About imec
Imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in the Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China, India and Japan. Its staff of over 2,080 people includes more than 670 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2013, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 332 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be. Stay up to date about what’s happening at imec with the monthly imec magazine, available for tablets and smartphones (as an app for iOS and Android), or via the website www.imec.be/imecmagazine
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.) and imec India (Imec India Private Limited).
 
About SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions
SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions has been established as a group company of SCREEN Holdings. It inherits all of the semiconductor equipment business from its predecessor, Dainippon Screen. On a base of the core technologies in etching and photolithography that has been cultivated over the years, it is a specialized manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment in various areas such as wafer cleaning equipment, lithography equipment and annealers, and is one of the world's top 10 suppliers. For more information, please visit: www.screen.co.jp/eng/spe

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