Imec and ASML sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support semiconductor research and sustainable innovation in Europe
June 28 2023 - 8:00AM
Imec and ASML sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to
support semiconductor research and sustainable innovation in
Europe ASML is making a substantial commitment
in imec's future
state-of-the-art pilot line
Leuven (Belgium) and Veldhoven (the Netherlands), June 28, 2023
– Imec, a leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics
and digital technologies, and ASML Holding N.V. (ASML), a leading
supplier to the semiconductor industry, today announce that they
intend to intensify their collaboration in the next phase of
developing a state-of-the-art high-numerical aperture (High-NA)
extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography pilot line at imec.
The pilot line is intended to help the industries using
semiconductor technologies to understand the opportunities that
advanced semiconductor technology can bring and have access to a
prototyping platform that will support their innovations. The
collaboration between imec, ASML and other partners will enable the
exploration of novel semiconductor applications, the potential
development of sustainable, leading-edge manufacturing solutions
for chip makers and end users, as well as the development of
advanced holistic patterning flows in collaboration with the
equipment and material ecosystem.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed today includes the
installment and service of ASML’s full suite of advanced
lithography and metrology equipment in the imec pilot line in
Leuven, Belgium, such as the latest model 0.55 NA EUV (TWINSCAN
EXE:5200), latest models 0.33 NA EUV (TWINSCAN NXE:3800), DUV
immersion (TWINSCAN NXT:2100i), Yieldstar optical metrology and HMI
multi-beam. The intended engagement represents a very significant
value in the advanced pilot line.
This groundbreaking new High-NA technology is crucial for
developing high-performance energy-efficient chips, such as
next-generation AI systems. It also enables innovative deep-tech
solutions that could be used to tackle some of the major challenges
our society is facing in for instance healthcare, nutrition,
mobility/automotive, climate change and sustainable energy.
Significant investments are needed to secure industry-broad access
to High-NA EUV lithography beyond 2025 and retain the related
advanced node process R&D capabilities in Europe.
This Memorandum of Understanding kickstarts the next phase of
intensive collaboration between ASML and imec on High-NA EUV. The
first phase of process research is being executed in the joint
imec-ASML High-NA lab using the first High-NA EUV scanner (TWINSCAN
EXE:5000). Imec and ASML collaborate with all leading-edge
chipmakers and materials and equipment ecosystem partners, with the
goal to prepare the technology for the fastest possible adoption in
mass manufacturing. In the next phase, these activities will be
ramped up in the imec pilot line in Leuven (Belgium) on the
next-generation High-NA EUV scanner (TWINSCAN EXE:5200).
The intensified collaboration plans on lithography and metrology
technology between the two semiconductor players are in line with
the ambitions and plans of the European Commission and its member
states (Chips Act, IPCEI) in order to strengthen innovation to
tackle societal challenges. Part of the collaboration between imec
and ASML is therefore captured in an IPCEI proposal which is
currently in review by the Dutch government.
“ASML is making a substantial commitment in imec's
state-of-the-art pilot fab to support semiconductor research and
sustainable innovation in Europe. As artificial intelligence (AI)
rapidly expands into domains such as natural language processing,
computer vision and autonomous systems, the complexity of tasks
escalates. Therefore, it is crucial to develop chip technology that
can meet these computational demands without depleting the planet's
precious (energy) resources,” said Peter Wennink, President and
Chief Executive Officer of ASML.
“This commitment from ASML, which builds on over 30 years of
successful collaboration, sends a powerful signal of our unwavering
dedication to drive the advancement of sub-nanometer chip
technology,” commented Luc Van den hove, President and Chief
Executive Officer of imec. “This collaboration serves as a
testament to the strength that lies in unity within the chip
industry. While these projects enable us to fortify our regional
strengths initially, they also pave the way for future global
cooperation, allowing partners worldwide to benefit from local
breakthroughs. It is through these collective efforts that we can
truly accelerate innovation and propel the semiconductor industry
to new heights.”
Imec Media Relations contactJade Liu,
international press officer // T +32 16 28 16 93 // M +32 495 71 74
52 // Jade.Liu@imec.be
ASML Media Relations
contacts |
ASML Investor Relations
contacts |
Monique Mols +31 6
5284 4418 |
Skip Miller +1 480
235 0934 |
Sarah de Crescenzo
+1 925 899 8985 |
Marcel Kemp +31 40
268 6494 |
Karen Lo +886
939788635 |
Peter Cheang +886 3
659 6771 |
About imecImec is a world-leading research and
innovation center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec
leverages its state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure and its team
of more than 5,500 employees and top researchers, for R&D in
advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics,
artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing
technologies, and in application domains such as health and life
sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities,
sustainable energy, education, … Imec unites world-industry leaders
across the semiconductor value chain, Flanders-based and
international tech, pharma, medical and ICT companies, start-ups,
and academia and knowledge centers. Imec is headquartered in Leuven
(Belgium), and has research sites across Belgium, in the
Netherlands and the USA, and representation in 3 continents. In
2022, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 846 million euro. Further
information on imec can be found at www.imec-int.com.
About ASMLASML is a leading supplier to the
semiconductor industry. The company provides chipmakers with
hardware, software and services to mass produce the patterns of
integrated circuits (microchips). Together with its partners, ASML
drives the advancement of more affordable, more powerful, more
energy-efficient microchips. ASML enables groundbreaking technology
to solve some of humanity's toughest challenges, such as in
healthcare, energy use and conservation, mobility and agriculture.
ASML is a multinational company headquartered in Veldhoven, the
Netherlands, with offices across Europe, the US and Asia. Every
day, ASML’s more than 40,500 employees (FTE) challenge the status
quo and push technology to new limits. ASML is traded on Euronext
Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. Discover ASML – our
products, technology and career opportunities – at
www.asml.com.
ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:ASML)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:ASML)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024