March 13, 2002 – Salem, NH – AmberWave Systems Corp., a provider of semiconductor IP, has partnered with IQE Silicon Compounds Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of IQE plc, an outsource manufacturer of epitaxial wafers and services, for the high-volume production of epiwafers based on AmberWave’s proprietary (epsilon)MOS strained silicon technology.

Under the terms of the agreement, AmberWave has licensed its generation one strained silicon technology to IQE’s silicon compounds division for the production of 200mm wafers. AmberWave’s licensee base will have immediate access to these wafers for use in next-generation digital, wireless, and optoelectronic applications.

This partnership addresses the semiconductor industry’s challenge of minimizing capital expenditure while simultaneously increasing speed and reducing power in commercial ICs. AmberWave’s strained silicon technology uses the cost-effective silicon infrastructure already in place throughout the industry, so no additional capital investment is necessary, the company said.

IQE plc will utilize AmberWave’s technology to produce high volumes of strained silicon wafers that are suitable for high volume, highly integrated applications, such as today’s microprocessors and field programmable gate arrays.