Dec.21, 2001 – Milpitas, CA – Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) have entered into an alliance. Upon execution of the detailed agreements, Chartered will transfer its 0.18-micron baseline logic process technology and grant patent license rights to SMIC in exchange for an equity stake and access to capacity.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“This non-exclusive alliance is part of Chartered’s long-term China strategy, ” said Barry Waite, president and CEO of Chartered. “Through this alliance with a foundry in China, we can offer our customers access to capacity in the world’s fastest-growing market.”
SMIC has entered into pilot production producing 200mm wafers at 0.25-micron (and below) technology, and it is expected to reach full capacity producing 85,000 200mm wafers/month by the end of 2004. SMIC devices in the initial production phase are expected to include SRAM, ASIC RAM, LOGIC, and other kinds of chips with applications in digital TV, VCD/DVD players, mobile phone, smart IC cards, and other applications, according to the company.