Partnership to Develop Standard Calibration Wafers Will Support More Than 100 Jobs in New York and Israel with $50M Market Potential

Albany, NY - Supporting Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's vision for New York State's continued leadership in the global high-tech economy, SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY Poly CNSE) and Israel’s Metro450 consortium today jointly announced plans to develop and produce Standard Calibration Wafers (SCW) for use with 300mm and 450mm metrology and process tools.  The initiative will generate $2.9 million in investment and support more than 100 jobs in New York and Israel.

Today’s announcement is an outgrowth of the partnership announced by Governor Cuomo on March 20, 2013 between SUNY Poly CNSE and the Israeli Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) America's division in MATIMOP. Under the framework of this partnership, both sides are committed to generate advances in nanotechnology and expand joint research, development and business opportunities. The SCW project includes a $1.6 million commitment from Metro450 and $1.3 million in products, services and tool time from SUNY Poly CNSE. 

Establishing industry benchmarks for efficacy is a vital component in the transition from 300mm to 450mm wafer technology.  Without standardization, manufacturers would develop their own calibration techniques, yielding extended lead times, additional development costs, and unpredictable results.  The SUNY Poly CNSE-Metro450 partnership will develop and produce the worldwide standard for semiconductor tool calibration and matching.  Successful completion will enable an estimated $50 million market potential for both the 300mm and 450mm development community.

“Today’s announcement is a testament to New York’s global leadership in nanotechnology research and development, as envisioned by Governor Andrew Cuomo, and sets the stage for additional economic and employment opportunities for both New York and Israel,” said Paul Farrar, General Manager of Global 450mm Consortium (G450C) and SUNY Poly CNSE Vice President for Manufacturing Innovation.  “The international expertise represented by the SUNY Poly CNSE-Metro450 partnership will enable further advances and marks another milestone in the transition to 450mm technology.”

“We are pleased to witness the success of this unique collaboration with SUNY Poly CNSE – a world renowned research center in the field of nanotechnology – in accelerating innovation and in enabling companies in New York and Israel to commercialize technological solutions in the global market,” said Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy of the State of Israel. “We are looking forward to furthering this partnership as a catalyst for economic growth in both regions.”

“Israel is a world leader in semiconductor metrology and inspection and our collaboration with SUNY Poly CNSE, one of the leading R&D facilities in the world, will generate significant advances in 450mm technology and provide positive economic impacts in both New York and Israel,” said Menachem Shoval, Chair of Israel’s Metro450 Consortium.  “We are thrilled to see the continued growth of its collaboration with SUNY Poly CNSE and the State of New York, and we extend our gratitude to Governor Cuomo and SUNY Poly President Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Chief Scientist Avi Hasson and Dan Vilenski – who is leading the Israeli National Nanotechnology Initiative (INNI), for their continued support and partnership.”

Metro450 is an Israeli consortium, operating under the MAGNET program of OCS, which aims to encourage metrology technology development in Israel while preparing for the industry transition to 450mm wafer technology. Five companies including Applied Materials Israel (AMIL), Nova, Jordan Valley, Nanomotion and Intel Israel have joined together to bring forward the most advanced developments in silicon wafer metrology. Metro450 also includes 19 researchers from 4 universities: Technion, Haifa University, BGU and TAU- conducting dozens of projects in support of the consortium.

The goal of the Magnet program, operated by Israel's Ministry of Economy’s office of chief scientist  (OCS) is to provide a competitive position for Israel's industry with regard to state of the art technologies. It is chartered to initiate, guide and sponsor dedicated consortia, based on collaboration between Israeli industrial companies and academic institutes.

Metro450 consortium members, consisting of key IDM, equipment makers, and academia, will work with SUNY Poly CNSE to enable and validate the most advanced metrology tool calibration targets.  Metrology is the science of measurement and, in the semiconductor field, refers to how devices are gauged for efficacy.  For the successful industry transition 300mm to 450mm technology, standard efficacy levels must be established for better semiconductor metrology and inline process control.

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About SUNY POLY.  SUNY Polytechnic Institute. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and degrees in technology, professional studies, and the arts and sciences at its Utica/Rome campus. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $20 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 3,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. The Utica/Rome campus offers a unique high-tech learning environment, providing academic programs in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, with degrees and course offerings in natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, CNSE’s Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester, and the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) on its Utica campus and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and

Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu and www.sunycnse.com

About the Office of the Chief Scientist and MATIMOP:  The Office of the Chief Scientist [OCS] in the Ministry of Economy is charged with execution of government policy for support of industrial R&D. The goal of the OCS is to assist in the development of technology in Israel as a means of fostering economic growth, encouraging technological innovation and entrepreneurship, leveraging Israel’s scientific potential, enhancing the knowledge base of industry in Israel, stimulating high value-added R&D and encouraging R&D collaboration both nationally and internationally. A variety of ongoing support programs developed and offered by the OCS play a major role in enabling Israel to be a key center for high tech entrepreneurship. For more information, visit the OCS website.

MATIMOP, the executive agency of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) is charged with developing and implementing the OCS international cooperation platforms. Its Americas division, established in 2013, promotes and facilitates bilateral R&D and innovation programs with Federal and States' entities in the US, Canada and Latin America.  http://www.matimop.org.il/usa.html