Russian microelectronics making progress but still facing an uphill climb

Zelenograd, Russia–While Russia is making progress in its efforts to develop microelectronics production well enough to participate in the international marketplace, it must improve the infrastructure needed to support world-class semiconductor manufacturing if it is to succeed. This was the opinion expressed by many of the more than 80 semiconductor industry executives who met in Zelenograd in October with their counterparts in Russian companies, attending briefings by high-level government officials. One of three executive missions organized by SEMI over the past three years, the meetings took place in Russia`s “Silicon Valley,” about 30 miles outside Moscow, with visitors from across the U.S., Asia and Europe. The majority of the executives taking part were from companies making the manufacturing equipment and materials needed to build the required infrastructure, according to SEMI. For the first time since the missions were started, there was significant representation from U.S. semiconductor companies such as Motorola, Advanced Micro Devices and National Semiconductor.