SINGAPORE, October 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
New S$150 million joint investment is
expected to create 60 jobs for highly skilled
scientists, engineers and researchers.
Applied Materials, Inc. today announced it plans to establish a
new R&D laboratory in Singapore in collaboration with the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The S$150 million joint investment will focus on
developing advanced semiconductor technology to fabricate future
generations of logic and memory chips.
The S$150 million joint lab will
be housed within A*STAR's new R&D cluster at Fusionopolis Two
and will feature a 400 square meter Class 1 cleanroom with
state-of-the-art semiconductor process equipment that has been
custom designed and built by Applied Materials. The facility will
be staffed by 60 highly skilled researchers and scientists, working
together with extended research teams at A*STAR's other research
institutes.
The joint lab combines Applied Materials' leading expertise in
materials engineering with A*STAR's multi-disciplinary R&D
capabilities. A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics (IME),
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), and
Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) will contribute to
research in low-defect processing, ultra-thin film materials,
materials analysis and characterisation, and modelling and
simulation in many areas. The joint lab is also supported by The
Singapore Economic Development Board, and is in line with its
efforts to promote leading-edge R&D and advanced manufacturing
activities. The intention is for products developed by the joint
lab to be manufactured by Applied Materials in Singapore. In addition, Applied Materials
plans to conduct experiments on the synchrotron at the Singapore
Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS) and work with the National University of Singapore where a new
beamline for semiconductor applications is to be developed. Funding
for the construction of the new beamline is supported by the
National Research Foundation.
Mr. Gary Dickerson, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Applied Materials, Inc., said, "A*STAR
and the government of Singapore
have been great R&D partners for Applied Materials. We are
excited to expand our collaboration to develop advanced
semiconductor technology for extending Moore's Law. Applied
Materials' leading expertise in materials engineering can help
solve the challenges of producing future generations of logic and
memory chips."
Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman,
A*STAR, said, "This collaboration will catalyse the development of
emerging technologies for the global electronics market and advance
Singapore's position as a key
R&D hub for the industry. The joint lab reaffirms A*STAR's
multi-disciplinary R&D capabilities to drive innovation in the
electronics sector, a key growth area for Singapore's economy, and will generate further
economic value through the creation of good jobs."
"The joint lab will strengthen capabilities for Applied
Materials in Singapore, as we
expand from advanced manufacturing to early stage R&D and
designing global products," said Mr. Russell Tham, Corporate Vice President &
Regional President South East Asia, Applied Materials, Inc.
"Successful public-private partnerships, leveraging complementary
strengths, help create new forms of value from Singapore and keep the local industry
competitive."
Prof Raj. Thampuran, Managing Director, A*STAR, said, "The new
joint lab takes the longstanding collaboration between Applied
Materials and A*STAR to the next level, and will marshal our
combined strengths in research, development, innovation and
industrial applications. This technology will pioneer new processes
and techniques to advance the fabrication of semiconductor
devices."
The new joint lab marks Applied Materials' second collaboration
with A*STAR. In 2012, Applied and A*STAR's IME formed a Center of
Excellence in Advanced Packaging in Singapore to develop advanced 3D chip
packaging technology.
About Applied Materials
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in
materials engineering solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel
display and solar photovoltaic industries. Our technologies help
make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels
more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around
the world. Learn more at http://www.appliedmaterials.com.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is
Singapore's lead public sector
agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance
scientific discovery and develop innovative technology.
Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both
the public and private sectors to benefit society.
As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap
between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth
and jobs for Singapore, and
enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as
improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and
sustainability.
We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of
talent and leaders in our Agency and Research Institutes, the wider
research community and industry. A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical
sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities
primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.
For more information on A*STAR, please visit
http://www.a-star.edu.sg.
About A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics
(IME)
The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is a research institute
of the Science and Engineering Research Council of the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Positioned to bridge the
R&D between academia and industry, IME's mission is to add
value to Singapore's semiconductor
industry by developing strategic competencies, innovative
technologies and intellectual property; enabling enterprises to be
technologically competitive; and cultivating a technology talent
pool to inject new knowledge to the industry. Its key research
areas are in integrated circuits design, advanced packaging,
bioelectronics and medical devices, MEMS, nanoelectronics, and
photonics.
For more information on IME, please visit
http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg.
About A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research
and Engineering (IMRE)
The Institute of Materials
Research and Engineering (IMRE) is a
research institute of the Agency
for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR). The Institute has capabilities
in materials analysis & characterisation,
design & growth, patterning & fabrication,
and synthesis & integration. We house a range of
state-of-the-art equipment for materials research including
development, processing and characterisation. IMRE conducts a wide
range of research, which includes novel materials for organic solar
cells, photovoltaics, printed electronics, catalysis, bio-mimetics,
microfluidics, quantum dots, heterostructures, sustainable
materials, atom technology, etc. We collaborate actively with other
research institutes, universities, public bodies, and a wide
spectrum of industrial companies, both globally and locally.
For more information about IMRE, please visit
http://www.imre.a-star.edu.sg.
About A*STAR's Institute of High Performance
Computing (IHPC)
A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) was
established in August 1998 to provide
leadership in high performance computing as a strategic resource
for scientific inquiry and industry development. It seeks to power
discoveries through advanced methodologies, techniques and new
tools in modelling, simulation and visualisation. Its core research
areas are in the realm of complex-coupled systems, mechanics and
fluid dynamics, large-scale systems, digital modelling, adaptive
and collaborative computing, data mining and analysis,
computational electronics and electromagnetics, computational
materials science and chemistry.
For more information about IHPC, please visit
http://www.ihpc.a-star.edu.sg.
# # #
Applied Materials:
Kevin Winston (USA)
+1-408-563-5300
kevin_winston@amat.com
Seraphina Seng (Singapore)
+65-6311-7531
seraphina_seng@amat.com
A*STAR:
Lynn Hong
+65-6419-6597
hongxl@scei.a-star.edu.sg
Investor Relations Contacts
Applied Materials:
Michael Sullivan
+1-408-986-7977
michael_sullivan@amat.com
SOURCE Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)