Leuven, Belgium — June 07, 2010 — Imec, a world-leading nanoelectronics research center, and TSMC, the world-leading semiconductor foundry, today announced the extension of imec’s Europractice IC service with the offering of TSMC’s 40 nanometer technologies. Subsequent to the close collaboration between imec and TSMC on advanced technology research and development, both companies will offer TSMC’s CybershuttleTM Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) platform for IC prototyping and production services to European companies and academia.

The offering will include TSMC’s 40 nanometer general purpose CMOS and low-power CMOS technologies. With this offering European-based companies and academia with low-volume manufacturing needs, such as universities, research centers, start-up companies, and companies with small niche markets will get supported access to advanced technologies from TSMC.

Europractice IC service, coordinated by imec, offers companies ASIC (application-specific integrated circuits) services to help bring their products to market quickly and cost effectively. These services encompass easy technology access, layout service, prototyping on TSMC’s Cybershuttle, small to medium volume production, assembly and test.

"Extending the partnership with imec enhances our ability to support the growing Innovation in the European semiconductor industry, particularly of Small and Medium Enterprises, and enables European academia and research institutes to access TSMC's advanced technology offerings." said Maria Marced, President, TSMC Europe.

Carl Das, Director of the Europractice IC service at imec said, "We are very happy to extend our work together with TSMC. After offering TSMC's 40nm technology to European fables companies as TSMC-VCA (Value Chain Aggregator) partner, imec is excited to add the 40nm offering to its Europractice university technology portfolio. With TSMC’s 40 nanometer technology portfolio offering, Europractice shows its continuous commitment to provide the best and most advanced solutions to European academia and research institutes."

The news release can be downloaded at http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/EuropracticeTSMC.html

About imec

Imec performs world-leading research in microelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society.

Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China and Japan. Its staff of more than 1,750 people includes over 650 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2009, imec's revenue (P&L) was 275 million euro.

Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be.

About Europractice

Europractice is an EC-funded project in the frame of FP7. The Europractice IC service offers affordable IC design EDA tools and IC prototyping services to 650 European universities and research institutes. Europractice IC service is coordinated by imec. Further information on Europractice can be found at www.europractice.com



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