Applied Materials, the global leader in supplying equipment to facilitate the manufacture of superior semiconductor devices, has joined the strategic research cluster, FORME (Functional Oxides and Related Materials for Electronics), which is funded by the Science Foundation, Ireland.
The Tyndall National Institute, UCC and working at a university site in Cork, Ireland lead the research cluster that concentrates on the development of materials and procedures to allow the production of quicker, slighter and more power-efficient logic processors for computing and related memory and information storage issues.
Prof. Martyn Pemble, Tyndall Researcher and Head of the FORME Strategic Research Cluster said that he was delighted to welcome Applied Materials to the research cluster as it had wide-ranging expertise and understanding in the design of processes and equipment that is used in semiconductor production.
FORME created in 2007 has produced exciting results in the region of advanced CMOS technology since its inception. Applied Materials has vast proficiency in one of their major technology areas - atomic layer deposition (ALD). The fact that Applied Materials has chosen FORME and Tyndall after a worldwide search for a new literary partner clearly reveals the value of their work as identified by the electronics industry, added Pemble.
Klaus Schuegraf, Chief Technology Officer of Applied Materials’ Silicon Systems Group said that Applied will offer and establish a multi-chamber futuristic ALD equipment at the Tyndall research facility and that they have a around the clock member of their staff as a Researcher in House working directly along with the Tyndall academic and industry partners.
Leonard Hobbs, Research Programme Manager, Intel said that Intel Ireland was the original partner in the cluster and that he was pleased that a prime equipment supplier has shown his dedication to the field by supporting the research potential of Tyndall’s academic team.
Research work to scrutinize ALD processes on the recently commissioned ALD system is likely to commence right away and will be carried on for 24 months. The Applied Materials Ireland team is executing a crucial part in making possible this research project with maintenance support and engineering proficiency.