TSMC, IMEC join forces to bring novel technology solutions to emerging markets

LEUVEN, BELGIUM & HSHINCHU, TAIWAN: IMEC and TSMC have forged an Innovation Incubation Alliance to create a platform enabling the development of innovative product solutions using emerging More-than-Moore technology options.

Integrating extra functionalities with foundry CMOS enables customers to compete in emerging markets. By combining IMEC’'s expertise in design and technology R&D with TSMC’'s excellence in high-volume manufacturing, customers will benefit from an early access to new More-than-Moore technologies and rapid transition to volume manufacturing for their next generation electronic products.

The IMEC-TSMC Innovation Incubation Alliance provides a platform for turning your innovative concepts into packaged microsystem products with enhanced functionality. Customers get access to emerging technologies, validate concepts at product level, and rapidly transfer to volume manufacturing.

IMEC and TSMC bring together a multidisciplinary team of technologists, designers and test capabilities to design and develop the next generation products based on innovative technology and design solutions. During the prototyping process at IMEC, compatibility with existing TSMC technology manufacturing platforms will be pursued to ensure a smooth transition to volume manufacturing at TSMC.

Optical, thermal, chemical, acoustical, bio-sensing, display, memory and wireless communication functions have become a vital part of our multifunctional electronic products. Moreover, miniaturization of all these functions into compact form factors is essential to meet the consumer electronics demands for low-cost and energy-efficient solutions.

Besides the various More-than-Moore technology flavors, such as mixed-signal elements, 3D-technologies, MEMS processes, Si photonics and BiCMOS/HV, design and test tools and skills are needed to build these new multifunctional electronic products.

IMEC’'s CMORE initiative covers the full trajectory from early technology & design exploration, to building technology platforms and design libraries, and finally to product prototyping and the production of small volumes. IMEC’'s CMORE initiative is supported by a skilled organization that operates a 200 & 300mm R&D fab in a 24/7 mode.

“We are convinced that by joining our strengths, the IMEC-TSMC Innovation Incubation Alliance will offer customers an industry wide platform to rapidly bring innovative products to market;” said Maria Marced, President of TSMC Europe. ”With its solid R&D track record and global scale industry collaborations, IMEC is well positioned to demonstrate novel technology & design solutions at product level.”

“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with TSMC in the More-than-Moore field”, said Luc Van den hove, IMEC’s President and CEO. “By linking IMEC'’s R&D skills with TSMC’s manufacturing skills during the product development phase, the transition of More-than-Moore technologies to high volume manufacturing will accelerate.”