SEMATECH History
Acceleration: SEMATECH Achieves its first mission
SEMATECH traces its history back to 1986, when the idea of launching a bold experiment in industry-government cooperation was conceived to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry. The consortium, called SEMATECH (SEmiconductor MAnufacturing TECHnology), was formed in 1987, when 14 U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturers and the U.S. government came together to solve common manufacturing problems by leveraging resources and sharing risks. Austin, Texas, was chosen as the site, and SEMATECH officially began operations in 1988, focused on improving the industry infrastructure, particularly by working with domestic equipment suppliers to improve their capabilities.
By 1994, it had become clear that the
U.S. semiconductor industry—both
device makers and suppliers—had
regained strength and market share; at
that time, the SEMATECH Board of Directors
voted to seek an end to matching federal
funding after 1996, reasoning that the
industry had returned to health and should
no longer receive government support.
SEMATECH continued to serve
its membership,
and the semiconductor industry
at large, through advanced
technology development
in program areas such as
lithography, front end
processes, and interconnect,
and through its interactions with an
increasingly global supplier base on
manufacturing challenges.
Globalization: Adding International Membership
The International 300 mm Initiative (I300I) was formed as a subsidiary of SEMATECH in 1995, with seven non-U.S. companies and six U.S. companies cooperating on 300 mm tool standards and specifications; in 1998 five of those international companies opted to participate in more of the consortium's programs through a subsidiary called International SEMATECH (ISMT), and then ultimately made the decision to join SEMATECH as full members. In recognition of its global membership base, SEMATECH renamed itself International SEMATECH. In 2000, International SEMATECH completed its first year of operations as a unified global consortium, with members from Asia, Europe, and the U.S., dedicated to cooperative work on semiconductor manufacturing technology.
Customization: SEMATECH Creates Subsidiaries
By 2003, International SEMATECH had
adjusted its business model to include
R&D participation with regional governments,
including the State of New York and the
State of Texas through the Advanced Materials
Research Center (AMRC). International
SEMATECH also launched a new subsidiary, International
SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI),
focused on reducing cost per wafer for
IC manufacturers.
In April of 2004 International SEMATECH, with the State of Texas and the University of Texas, officially announced the formation of the Advanced Materials Research Center (AMRC). This partnership was developed to foster joint projects and accelerate commercialization of research on new materials and nanostructures for future transistors and their interconnection, as well as the advanced patterning and measurement of future materials and structures. Mid-year in 2004, International SEMATECH announced its latest subsidiary, Advanced Technology Development Facility (ATDF) as a for-profit research facility. In September of 2004, the parent company, International SEMATECH, once again became SEMATECH.
We're proud of our heritage and of our continuing role in a dynamic and global industry. As we look to the future, we will continue to assist our members in accelerating the next technology revolution.