Imec Welcomes NVIDIA as Fabless Partner in its Advanced CMOS Scaling Program

LEUVEN, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NVIDIA, a world-leader in visual computing technologies, signed a 3-year research collaboration agreement with imec on advanced CMOS scaling. By joining imec’s core CMOS program as INSITE member, NVIDIA will get early insight in the impact of future process and design technology options on its next-generation products.

“This collaboration once again confirms that our offering helps companies anticipate new technologies, so that they may design more advanced systems and applications, and put them on the market faster.”

NVIDIA joins the growing fabless community of imec’s core CMOS program. The collaboration focuses on the system design impact of advanced devices, interconnect, including 3D, and lithography implications for the sub-20nm node.

Imec INSITE makes information from imec’s advanced CMOS technology research programs available in formats that can be used by product designers for early assessment of the impact and potential of those technologies for product roadmaps. Imec’s solution allows for early feedback towards technology specification, early decisions on required architectural design changes, and faster learning cycles for technology adoption with reduced risks. And, vice versa, the program allows imec to derive specifications for next-generation technologies from future system requirements.

“Our advanced CMOS scaling offering for the product design community in IDMs, fabless, fablite, and system-design companies is gaining a lot of interest. We are excited to welcome NVIDA as a valuable partner in our technology-design ecosystem;” said Luc Van den hove, President and CEO of imec. “This collaboration once again confirms that our offering helps companies anticipate new technologies, so that they may design more advanced systems and applications, and put them on the market faster.”

“As NVIDIA continues to expand in markets ranging from super phones to supercomputers, we’ve accelerated the pace of innovation. By working closely with the world-renowned research team at imec, we can develop advanced foundry techniques that deliver state-of-the-art solutions to our customers faster;” said John Chen, vice president of technology, NVIDIA.

This news release can be downloaded at http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/imecnvidiainsite.html

About imec

Imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China and Japan. Its staff of about 1,900 people includes more than 500 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2010, imec's revenue (P&L) was 285 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be.

Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shangai) Co. Ltd.).

About NVIDIA

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) awakened the world to the power of computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Since then, it has consistently set new standards in visual computing with breathtaking, interactive graphics available on devices ranging from tablets and portable media players to notebooks and workstations. NVIDIA's expertise in programmable GPUs has led to breakthroughs in parallel processing which make supercomputing inexpensive and widely accessible. The Company holds more than 1,800 patents worldwide, including ones covering designs and insights that are essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com.