Smart collaboration

AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) has entered into a two-year collaboration programme with Belgium’s IMEC to develop AMIS’s critical and novel Smart Power processes and devices.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMIS will develop the technology in IMEC’s 200mm facilities and draw upon IMEC’s experience in deep submicron process technology.

A team of AMIS engineers will work on-site with IMEC engineers in Leuven, Belgium, in conjunction with the AMIS Smart Power team in Oudenaarde, Belgium.

‘This collaborative agreement will allow us to develop our I4T Smart Power Technology platform while protecting our differentiating and critical IP,’ said Christine Kind, CEO of AMIS.

According to AMIS, the I4T platform allows the integration of high voltage and power functions with dense logic, processors and memories into a single device. Applications for the I4T platform range from automotive, power regulation and communications.

Gilbert Declerck, CEO of IMEC, said: ‘The new project with AMIS fits IMEC's CMORE programme, targeted at R&D for new fabrication processes and device technologies focusing on performance and new functions, rather than further scaling of transistors.’