News Article
Infineon alliance with Russia's KNC
German chip maker Infineon Technologies and Russian firm Koncern Nauchny Centr (KNC) have agreed to co-operate in the field of chip packages for smart card applications.
Based on the agreement, the companies will foremost promote wirebond packaging technology in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Infineon will make available its expertise in production methods for smart card chip packages and will transfer two conventional assembly lines to KNCs semiconductor production facility, Mikron, in Zelenograd, Russia. KNC on its part will integrate Infineons chips in its future smart cards for use in such applications as SIM cards in mobile phones. Financial details of the collaboration and of the supply agreement were not disclosed.
“Our partnership with world leaders in semiconductors and system solutions and using the newest technological developments will enable us to effectively develop modern chip packaging technologies at KNC,” said Alexander Goncharuk, KNCs CEO after the agreements signing ceremony. “Cooperation with Infineon is our next step in the field of microelectronics. We are actively developing Russian and CIS smart cards markets which require state-of-the-art technologies.”
Andreas Liebheit, vice president at Infineons Chip Card and Security ICs business unit, said: “The Russian SIM card market, both strong in volumes as well as fast in migration to high-value SIM cards, needs dedicated local engagement and this cooperation with KNC is most promising as they are the strongest Russian supplier in the telecom industry
“This is why Infineon concentrates its work together with KNC in this field as a first step; however, we plan to enlarge this co-operation to other applications, such as payment and health care and social insurance cards.”
Infineon will make available its expertise in production methods for smart card chip packages and will transfer two conventional assembly lines to KNCs semiconductor production facility, Mikron, in Zelenograd, Russia. KNC on its part will integrate Infineons chips in its future smart cards for use in such applications as SIM cards in mobile phones. Financial details of the collaboration and of the supply agreement were not disclosed.
“Our partnership with world leaders in semiconductors and system solutions and using the newest technological developments will enable us to effectively develop modern chip packaging technologies at KNC,” said Alexander Goncharuk, KNCs CEO after the agreements signing ceremony. “Cooperation with Infineon is our next step in the field of microelectronics. We are actively developing Russian and CIS smart cards markets which require state-of-the-art technologies.”
Andreas Liebheit, vice president at Infineons Chip Card and Security ICs business unit, said: “The Russian SIM card market, both strong in volumes as well as fast in migration to high-value SIM cards, needs dedicated local engagement and this cooperation with KNC is most promising as they are the strongest Russian supplier in the telecom industry
“This is why Infineon concentrates its work together with KNC in this field as a first step; however, we plan to enlarge this co-operation to other applications, such as payment and health care and social insurance cards.”