ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Sandia National Laboratories and SEMI/SEMATECH have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) aimed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor supplier industry and to support and nurture Sandia's technology base.

The umbrella agreement will allow the 186 SEMI/SEMATECH member companies to engage in cooperative R&D projects with Sandia within approximately one week after a project and its cost have been agreed upon by the member company and Sandia, thereby saving both time and legal expenses.

Many member companies are expected to take advantage of Sandia's capabilities through this streamlined CRADA process.

SEMI/SEMATECH is a consortium of U.S. suppliers to the global semiconductor industry, based in Austin, Tex. Its members account for more than half of the worldwide sales of semiconductor equipment, materials, and services.

"This CRADA will greatly simplify and expedite access to Sandia technology by our members," says Paul Peercy, President of SEMI/SEMATECH and himself a former Sandia microelectronics research director. "Through this CRADA, our members will leverage the nation's investment in Sandia to benefit the U.S. semiconductor supplier industry."

Under this agreement, SEMI/SEMATECH members will fund the work of Sandia technologists. In some projects, equipment and technology necessary for Sandia's radiation-hardened microelectronics and micromachining capability may be contributed to Sandia through the CRADA.

"Sandia views its CRADA with SEMI/SEMATECH as an opportunity to expand and simplify mutually beneficial interactions with the semiconductor suppler industry," says Al Romig, Director of Sandia's Microelectronics and Photonics Center. "The negotiation of an umbrella agreement means that after Sandia and member company technologists negotiate cost, performance, and schedule, work can begin without delay."

"We're very pleased with this new umbrella agreement," says Warren Siemens, Director of Technology Partnerships & Commercialization Center. "It's a real trailblazer that paves the way to easier partnering between Sandia and companies in the supplier tiers of other industry segments where they formed coalitions like SEMI/SEMATECH."

Sandia is a multiprogram DOE laboratory, operated by a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major research and development responsibilities in national security, energy, and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.

Questions and Comments || Acknowledgment and Disclaimer