ENIAC invests more in 450mm semiconductor research
The total R&D volume engaged in the ENIAC Joint Undertaking (JU) semiconductor research programme reached 1.8 billion Euro (€) at the end of 2012.
The 2012 projects added up to more than four times the volume achieved in the two years before thanks to Key Enabling Technologies (KET) Pilot Line projects and enabled by a strong involvement of the ENIAC member states.
The budget available for 2013 allows supporting R&D projects approaching €1 billion total eligible costs.
The KET Pilot Line projects summing up to €730 million strengthens the European 300mm infrastructure (59 percent), support significant developments in diversification technologies on 200mm and smaller diameters (13 percent), and allow equipment and materials suppliers to prepare for the transition to the 450mm generation (28 percent).
Andreas Wild, Executive Director of the ENIAC JU, comments, "The stakeholders in the ENIAC JU programme - the industry, the ENIAC member States and the European Union - gain confidence in its ability to deliver, more than doubling the total investments two years in a row. This is a solid basis for future action to re-establish Europe in a leading position".
The ENIAC JU research agenda covers three technology and five application areas with societal impact. The projects are carried out by more than 530 participating organisations among which 26 percent are large companies, 41 percent SMEs, and 33 percent Universities and research institutes.
The ENIAC JU is a public-private partnership on nanoelectronics bringing together the ENIAC member States, the European Union, and AENEAS (an association representing European R&D actors).
It coordinates research activities through competitive calls for proposals to enhance the further integration and miniaturisation of devices, and increase their functionalities. It aims to deliver new materials, equipment and processes, new architectures, innovative manufacturing processes, disruptive design methodologies, new packaging and "˜systemising' methods. It will drive and be driven by innovative high-tech applications in communication and computing, transport, health care and wellness, energy and environmental management, security and safety, and entertainment.
The ENIAC JU was set up in February 2008 and will allocate grants throughout 2013. The projects selected for funding will be executed until 31st December 2017. The total value of the R&D activities generated through ENIAC JU is estimated at €3 billion.
