AIST and imec Conclude a Memorandum of Understanding on Comprehensive Research Cooperation

On November 19, 2010, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and imec (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center) International of Belgium signed a memorandum of understanding on comprehensive research cooperation in nanotechnology, nanoelectronics, and other fields.

AIST, along with the National Institute for Materials Science and the University of Tsukuba and with the cooperation of industry, is working to establish a global nanotechnology research center, Tsukuba Innovation Arena (TIA), in Tsukuba where there is a cluster of leading nanotechnology research facilities and experts. Imec was founded with support from the Flemish Government, universities in Flanders, Belgium, and industry as a non-profitable research organization focusing on the field of microelectronics. Currently, imec is one of the world's best-known research centers for cutting-edge semiconductors technology, from advanced element devices to functional system chips, with a broad international participation of researchers from industry, universities and research institutes.

AIST and imec have exchanged personnel and information including lectures at international workshops and dispatch of researchers to advance their activities as research initiatives. To solidify this existing partnership, AIST and imec have signed the new memorandum to promote their nanotechnology research initiatives through joint research, personnel exchanges, and hosting joint symposiums in nanotechnology, nanoelectronics and other fields, thereby strengthening industrial competitiveness.

AIST has a long track record of the R&D and industry launches of device technology since it was the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology. Building on this history, AIST is expected to make a significant contribution to the activities of TIA. Imec and AIST plan to discuss specific cooperative efforts and activities.