November 6, 2007 – AMD, Carl Zeiss SMT, and Qimonda AG are forming a 12M euro (US ~$17.4M) “innovation center” in Dresden, Germany (“Silicon Saxony”), under a larger “Nanoanalysis” project to develop new analytical and characterization methods for next-gen chip development.

The initiative is part of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s (BMBF) IKT2020 program, involves setting up and expanding microelectronics competency centers. This particular center will utilize ultrahigh-resolution particle beam systems to image, analyze, and process specimens in support of characterization of 3D semiconductor structures and development of new materials for chip fabrication.

The site is open to “all interested firms and institutes in the Dresden area,” including all partners of “Silicon Saxony” — e.g. the Dresden Technical U. or the Fraunhofer Center Nanoelectronic Technologies CNT.

“Only through the consistent enhancement of the analytical and measuring methods will it be possible to master the future challenges posed by the development and production of state-of-the-art storage technologies,” noted Frank Prein, managing director of Qimonda’s Dresden operation and SVP of technology, in a statement.

Wolf-Dieter Lukas, head of the BMBF department “Key Technologies – Research for Innovations,” added that “only by setting targeted priorities in research funding will we succeed in maintaining Dresden’s leading role in high-tech chip production and in further expanding it through such innovative approaches as here in the field of nanoanalysis.”

“Through our joint work in the Carl Zeiss Innovation Center Dresden, we have access to leading-edge electron and ion microscopes and believe we can therefore further accelerate the introduction of new technologies,” stated Udo Nothelfer, VP of AMD’s Fab 36. “The experience gained in industrial utilization may be incorporated at an early stage in the development of future analytical systems.”