| Posted: June 25, 2007 |
Significant step towards European joint technology initiative on nanoelectronics |
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(Nanowerk News) A significant step towards the joint technology research program on Nanoelectronics driven by European companies, universities and research institutes was made during a meeting held at the IMEC premises in Leuven on May 31st. Representatives from ASML, Bosch, Infineon Technologies, NXP, STMicroelectronics, S.O.I.T.E.C., Thales and Thomson could welcome more than 30 new members to the AENEAS association paving the way for a strong European Technology Platform on Nanoelectronics (ENIAC).
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AENEAS (Association for European NanoElectronics ActivitieS) is a non-profit industrial association, providing a legal backbone to ENIAC – the European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council. AENEAS will carry forth the mission and the activities of the ENIAC Platform, and allow European R&D performers in Nanoelectronics to participate in a public-private partnership with the European Commission, Member States and Associated States. The aim of this partnership is to implement key parts of the ENIAC Strategic Research Agenda, in the frame of the proposed Joint Technology Initiatives, a major new mechanism in the European Framework Programme on research.
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Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, CEO of Infineon Technologies, Chairman of ENIAC, and one of AENEAS founding members, emphasized the importance of ENIAC and AENEAS:
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“Such initiatives are needed more than ever to ensure competitiveness of the semiconductor industry and its infrastructure in Europe. Globalisation is a major challenge for the semiconductor industry, representing an enabling industry in Europe for main applications in energy, transportation, health, security and communication. ENIAC and AENEAS bring together all R&D actors in Europe. The key to success for competitiveness of Europe is that industry, research centres and academia, cooperate and jointly contribute to transform technology research into European, leading edge products.”
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AENEAS shall represent the European R&D performers in the public-private partnership that will implement the expected Joint Technology Initiative: according to statement of the representative of the European Commission, a first proposal for the ENIAC Joint Technology Initiative will be presented to the Competitiveness Council by the end of June. Representatives of the European Commission and of the Public Authorities participating in the event illustrated the expectations and challenges raised by the planned public-private partnership.
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The next step in the currently ongoing process leading from the European Technology Platform to the legal association AENEAS will be the AENEAS General Assembly, which will take place in Stuttgart on October 9, 2007, in connection with SEMICON.
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