The nanoelectronics center, based in Dresden, Germany, was opened in June 2005. At the time it was revealed that besides 232.5 million euros from the German government the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) had supported the center with 133.5 million euros (about $160 million).

The overall project cost was estimated to be 700 million euro (about $850 million) and the Center for Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT) aims to rival two other lon-established European centers of research excellence, LETI in France and IMEC in Belgium.

The project is expected to create about 190 additional research posts as well as safeguarding existing jobs at Infineon’s and AMD’s production sites in Dresden. It is aimed at establishing a research platform for nanoelectronic technologies including two research centers where a series of collaboration research projects will be carried out. The European Commission said Thursday (April 6) that it considers that the aid is compatible with the EC Treaty (Article 87).

“I am pleased to approve aid which increases Europe’s competitiveness in the field of nanoelectronic technologies, promotes innovation and at the same time contributes to economic development in an assisted region,” said European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

CNT, as well as being a collaboration between AMD (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Infineon (Munich, Germany) and Fraunhofer, will lean on other facilities belonging to those companies in the Dresden area. CNT researchers will be able to use pre-processed wafer batches from Infineon's 300-mm production line or from AMD's fab in Dresden, apply newly-developed processes, and then deliver the wafers back to the fabs for volume finishing. CNT has 800 square meters of clean-room facilities being equipped with process technology equipment.

By: DocMemory
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