December 4, 2007 – Richard Templeton, president/CEO of Texas Instruments, has been awarded the 2007 Akira Inoue Award from SEMI, for his efforts and achievements in semiconductor industry environmental, health, and safety improvements.

Under his watch, TI has introduced “innovative environmentally-friendly products and processes and operational excellence in health and safety for employees,” including the world’s first “green” semiconductor manufacturing facility and the US semi industry’s top safety rate for the past three years. TI also is “leading the industry” with digital and analog technologies incorporating low power consumption and greater energy efficiency, noted SEMI in a statement.

“Under his direction, TI has made a priority of reducing air emissions, energy consumption, water use and waste while increasing resource conservation and energy efficiency,” stated Stanley Myers, president and CEO of SEMI.

Templeton has been TI’s top exec since May 2004 and a board member since 2003, having served as COO and EVP, and president of TI’s semiconductor business in his 28-year tenure at the company. He is also the immediate past chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association.

The award’s late namesake, a champion of environmental protection and employee health and safety within the semiconductor industry, served was past president and representative director of Tokyo Electron and a Semi board member. Previous Akira Inoue award winners include Samsung Electronics’ Chang-Gyu Hwang, Air Products’ Jerry Ermentrout, STMicroelectronics’ Pasquale Pistorio, Intel’s Craig Barrett, Farhang Shadman from the U. of Arizona, Seiko Epson president Saburo Kusama, and Hitachi Chemical chairman Isao Uchigasaki.
\