10 June 2015

EU-funded ASCENT project offers researchers access to European nanoelectronics infrastructure

Tyndall National Institute of Cork, Ireland, Grenoble-based CEA-Leti (the French government's Laboratory for Electronics & Information Technology) and nanoelectronics R&D center Imec in Leuven, Belgium have entered into the collaborative open-access project ASCENT (Access to European Nanoelectronics Network) to mobilize European research capabilities. 

Funded by the European Union via Horizon 2020 (the EU's framework program for Research and Innovation for 2014-2020) under Grant Agreement No. 654384, the €4.7m project will make the unique research infrastructure of the three European R&D centers available to the nanoelectronics modelling and characterization research community.

ASCENT aims to share best scientific and technological practices, form a knowledge-innovation hub, train new researchers in advanced methodologies, and establish a research network of advanced technology designers, modellers and manufacturers in Europe. The intention is to strengthen Europe's knowledge in the integral area of nanoelectronics research.

The three partners will provide researchers access to advanced device data, test chips and characterization equipment. Their respective facilities represent over €2bn of combined research infrastructure with what are reckoned to be unique credentials in advanced semiconductor processing, nanofabrication, heterogeneous and 3D integration, electrical characterization, and atomistic and TCAD modelling. This is the first time that access to these devices and test structures will become available anywhere in the world, it is claimed.

The project will engage industry directly through an 'Industry Innovation Committee' and will feed back the results of the open research to device manufacturers, giving them crucial information to improve the next generation of electronic devices.

"Tyndall has a great track record in running successful collaborative open-access programs, delivering real economic and societal impact," says Dr Kieran Drain, CEO of project coordinator Tyndall National Institute. "ASCENT has the capacity to change the paradigm of European research through unprecedented access to cutting-edge technologies… ASCENT will ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of global nanoelectronics development," he adds.

"The ASCENT project is an efficient, strategic way to open the complementary infrastructure and expertise of Tyndall, Leti and Imec to a broad range of researchers from Europe's nanoelectronics modelling-and-characterisation sectors," says Leti's CEO Marie-Noëlle Semeria. "Collaborative projects like this, that bring together diverse, dedicated and talented people, have synergistic affects that benefit everyone involved, while addressing pressing technological challenges."

"In the frame of the ASCENT project, three of Europe's leading research institutes – Tyndall, Imec and Leti – join forces in supporting the EU research and academic community, SMEs and industry by providing access to test structures and electrical data of state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies," comments Imec's Luc Van den hove. "This will enable them to explore exciting new opportunities in the 'More Moore' as well as the 'More than Moore' domains, and will allow them to participate and compete effectively on the global stage for the development of advanced nano-electronics."  

Tags: Tyndall Leti IMEC

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