Imec and ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology , have announced the extension of their strategic partnership until 2029. This collaboration aims to advance the NanoIC pilot line at imec with state-of-the-art semiconductor technology and manufacturing expertise for sub-2nm research and development.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement builds on the successful collaboration between imec and ZEISS, which began in 2019. The partnership focuses on developing key semiconductor manufacturing technologies, such as High-NA EUV lithography, to produce more powerful and energy-efficient microchips. These advancements are crucial for technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, Industry 4.0, and medical technology.
Thomas Stammler, CTO and member of the Management Team of ZEISS SMT, stated, "We are very pleased to intensify our collaboration with imec to jointly advance the semiconductor technologies of tomorrow with its strong partner network."
Luc Van den hove, President and CEO of imec, added, "For the research and development of cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, the expertise and technological experience of industry partners like ZEISS is essential. Therefore, we are very pleased to strengthen our partnership even further."
As part of the agreement, ZEISS will support imec by participating in research projects and providing lithography optics integrated into the lithography scanner systems of strategic partner ASML. This collaboration will enhance imec's pilot line, now expanded with the NanoIC pilot line, to provide industry representatives access to pioneering semiconductor technologies and platforms.
The partnership aligns with the European Union's goals and the European Chips Act, aiming to strengthen Europe's technological sovereignty and competitiveness. "With the investments in imec's pilot line, ZEISS is significantly contributing to maintaining and expanding Europe's lead in the latest generation of semiconductor equipment," said Stammler.
The NanoIC pilot line is jointly funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking, through the European Union’s Digital Europe and Horizon Europe programs, as well as by participating states Belgium (Flanders), France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, and Romania.
For more information, visit www.nanoic-project.eu.
