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Europe

Scots plan for 2003 upturn

The Scottish government and the University of Edinburgh plan to establish a $10.5-million "business incubator" to help Silicon Glen take advantage of the semiconductor industry's anticipated recovery. Called the Scottish Microelectronics Center, the facility will link academia, government, and local companies in an effort to support an industry that pumps approximately $2.5 billion annually into the country's economy. Scheduled to open in spring 2000, the center will give start-ups access to new equipment, processes, and metrology that typically would be beyond their budgets, according to organizers. The facility will provide R&D and design capabilities. In addition, equipment suppliers will have access to Class 10 cleanrooms and a laboratory for training and tool demonstrations. The center will be built at the university's science and engineering campus. Crawford Beveridge, chief executive officer of Scottish Enterprise, notes that the predicted doubling of industry revenues by 2003 "could create massive opportunities for the semiconductor industry in Scotland."

JEMI UK reorganizes

JEMI UK, the Edinburgh-based semiconductor equipment and materials trade group, has elected a new chairman and added new directors as part of an overall restructuring. Ian Burnett of IDB Technologies replaces Neil Downie, who resigned after six years as part-time CEO. Burnett takes over an association that grew under Downie's leadership to its current 32-member roster. Downie also oversaw the move of the headquarters to Edinburgh. The reorganization splits JEMI's core activities among the directors in order to expand these activities. They include a technical training program, member services, exhibitions, and membership recruitment. JEMI initially plans to increase the frequency of technical visits and become more fully involved in organizing the Vacuum and Semiconductor Processing Show with Trident Exhibitions.

Software deal signed

Macrotron Systems, Munich, has signed a contract to become the sole European distributor of products from IDS Software Systems. Headquartered in Foster City, CA, IDS manufactures statistical software tools for data analysis and management of semiconductor processes. In December the supplier introduced four new tools for tracking yield and improving overall product performance.

Asia

Litho software pacts approved

MicroUnity Engineering Systems of Sunnyvale, CA, has chosen two separate companies to distribute its reticle-enhancement software in Taiwan and Singapore. The supplier's MaskTools optical proximity correction (OPC) software will be marketed by GTI in Taiwan and by Intrasil in Singapore. The program is designed to improve yields by enhancing pattern fidelity, depth of focus, and CD control. Last fall the supplier signed an exclusive Japanese distribution contract with Best Technology.

In related news, MicroUnity has licensed the software to Taiwan's Electronics Research and Service Organization/Industrial Technology Research Institute, the largest semiconductor research organization in Taiwan. It is collaborating with the supplier to develop the capability of printing mask features compatible with 248- or 193-nm-deep UV tools for devices with 0.15-µm linewidths. The ability to print features below the wavelength of the current generation of lithography systems will enable chipmakers to manufacture next-generation devices without retooling their stepper facilities, asserts Roger Caldwell, MicroUnity's vice president of silicon technology.

Cabot opens Korea office

Cabot's microelectronics materials division has opened an office in South Korea to sell its line of CMP slurries. The Illinois-based company appointed Hogan Park as business manager. Park is a 13-year industry veteran. He joins Cabot from SeoJin Scientific, where he served as sales director. Growing local demand and South Korea's importance in the global DRAM market prompted the Cabot decision.

Philips picks Applied tool

Philips Semiconductors has installed a Centura RTP system from Applied Materials at its MOS4YOU fab in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. The plant makes high-volume logic devices at the site. The Centura system accommodates titanium silicide annealing processes used by Philips, according to Applied. The tool also can be used for processing chips with geometries 0.15 µm.

Celgard signs Korean agent

Celgard of Charlotte, NC, has hired Korea Trading Liaison (KTL) of Seoul to act as its exclusive sales agent in South Korea. KTL will market and service Celgard's Liqui-Cel extraflow membrane contactor, which removes dissolved gases from high-purity water.

Texwipe opens Philippines facility

Texwipe of Upper Saddle River, NJ, opened a 45,000-sq-ft cleanroom products plant in Cabayao on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

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