SRC 2000 Annual Report
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Jack Kilby Dedication There are few living men whose insights and professional accomplishments have changed the world. Jack Kilby is one of these men. There are few living men whose insights and professional accomplishments have changed the world. Jack Kilby is one of these men. His invention of the integrated circuit — the intellectual property policies by guiding microchip — some 30 years ago at Texas their formulation and participating in their Instruments (TI) provided the conceptual implementation. More recently, he proposed and technical foundation for modern micro- the Landmark Innovation Award the first of electronics. This was the key breakthrough which was presented by Mr. Kilby to Prof. that enabled the high-speed computers, Farhang Shadman at TECHCON 2000. More large-capacity semiconductor memories, importantly, Jack has made himself available network appliances, and complex controllers to consult and guide SRC throughout its nine- that characterize today’s information age. teen-year existence. He has been, and is, an On December 10, 2000, Mr. Kilby was important part of the successful development awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his of cooperative research in semiconductor pioneering and revolutionary work. technology. Jack Kilby has been an integral part of SRC’s In recognition of his lifetime of accomplish- evolution. He participated actively in SRC’s ments, of the recognition of his achievements summer studies in which he provided key per- through award of the Nobel Prize, and his spectives in debates on strategic organization contributions to cooperative research in directions and seminal insights on semicon- semiconductors, the Semiconductor Research ductor technology issues. Jack also played Corporation dedicates this annual report to a key role in the development of SRC’s Jack S. Kilby. SRCTable of Contents 2000 Jack Kilby Dedication . inside front cover Message from the President/CEO . 2 About SRC . 3-4 Research Contributions . 5-13 TECHCON 2000 & Awards . 14-17 Student Programs . 18-19 Industrial Liaison Program . 20 2000 Value Delivery . 21 SRC Copper IC Design Challenge . 22 SRC Web site . 23 Industry Assignee Program . 24-25 Intellectual Property . 26-27 MARCO’s Focus Center Research Program . 28 Financial Report . 29-35 SRC Member List . 36 SRC Board Members & OCE . inside back cover Mission SRC’s mission is to cost-effectively exceed members’ expectations by delivering: Vision • Managed, innovative, semiconductor technology Semiconductor Research research responsive to members’ needs and Corporation (SRC) will provide guided by the ITRS, focusing on universities competitive advantage to its • Relevantly educated university graduates members as the world’s premier • Timely transfer of research results research management consortium in delivering relevant research • Strengthened university semiconductor technology results and relevantly educated capability through partnerships with members technical talent. • Collaboration to enhance commercialization and leveraged research. The annual report of the Semiconductor Research Corporation is published each year to summarize the directions and results of the SRC research program, present the formal financial report and provide information on activities and events of the SRC community for the previous calendar year. A copy of this report and additional information about SRC are accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.src.org. Message from the President/CEO The year 2000 was a great one for SRC, and our June board retreat provided pivotal guidance for SRC as it evolves into a fully We also committed new resources, staff global research management consortium. and priority status to the SRC Education Alliance to help address the projected It seems that each SRC board retreat gets shortfall of talented scientists and engi- better, but last June’s retreat was clearly neers throughout the world. We instituted our best ever. SRC is an organization an undergraduate research program in where its owners are its customers. The cooperation with the Semiconductor Board, to be most effective, needs to Industry Association (SIA) and we recom- examine policy issues from the standpoint mitted our efforts to increase the number of both owners — where the Board is a of SRC-supported graduate students who “steward” of SRC; and as a customer — become employed by member companies. where each Board member wants to see its company receive maximum value for As stewards, our board recognized the each dollar invested in its member fee. necessity for a much stronger SRC to tackle the increasingly complex demands As SRC’s customers, our board reiterated of the International Technology Roadmap the importance of maximizing benefits to for Semiconductors. The board each SRC member company. In that spirit, recognized the importance of not only SRC began to examine new programmatic expanding SRC’s international member- structures and more flexible research ship to increase our research budget and program participation. Our goal is to reduce the “research funding gap” in enable member companies to optimally addressing the major global technology customize their research choices accord- challenges and barrier issues, but also to ing to each company’s interests, while better enable a broader collaboration to maintaining a strong, viable core research include the best researchers in the world. program with high value for all members. Through a broad globalization effort, to include new member companies, university researchers worldwide, enhanced coordi- nation with global consortia, and potential leveraged funding from governments in other regions of the world, the SRC Board of Directors has clearly outlined a broad globalization strategy for SRC. This strategy will not only enable SRC to keep pace with the internationalization efforts of its members but to continue to be a leader among other research consortia throughout the world. Sincerely, Larry W. Sumney 2 About SRC PIONEERS IN COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH needed to maintain the aggressive pace of Moore’s Law. Recent editions of the ITRS point out that the “red” areas — technical challenges for which there are no known solutions — are increasing in number and are encroaching in time. In addition to the technological chal- lenges, the semiconductor industry also faces a potentially critical shortfall in scientists and engineers in the future. These challenges are global and require Pictured left to right during a press conference at UMC: Ralph Cavin, Dinesh collaboration among semiconductor Mehta and Larry Sumney of SRC and Robert Tsao, John Hsuan and Fu-Tai Liou of UMC. companies worldwide. SRC has developed core competencies and a model of collaborative research that More than 18 position the consortium to address years ago, leaders these challenges. In response to these of the semiconductor challenges and based on SRC capabili- industry, decided to ties, the SRC Board decided to expand launch SRC to establish and nurture its membership to non-U.S. companies North American University research starting in the year 2000. At their annual capability in semiconductor technolo- Board Retreat in June 2000, the SRC gies. This was an important decision to Board authorized SRC to expand address several critical issues such as the research performer base to non- the weakened competitive position of North American universities. Thus, we the U.S. semiconductor companies in have begun the process of complete market and technology; inability of globalization of SRC. these companies to invest significantly in long-term research individually; lack In the broader context of a global SRC, of U.S. government support for we have continued to focus on the cre- research in silicon-based technologies; ation of four “products.” These are and resulting lack of university research Research Results, Relevantly Educated capability. Since formation, SRC Talent, Integrated University Research has consistently produced excellent Capability, and Networking. We have research results and trained more also continued to hone processes and than 3000 scientists and engineers who tools associated with the delivery of have helped make the semiconductor SRC value to the member companies. industry a strong and vital part of the Mechanisms and support are also electronic revolution. provided to facilitate our member com- panies’ ability to extract maximum value The semiconductor industry has in a most cost-effective manner. Finally, become global. In addition to we work with the representatives of our establishing distributed marketing and member companies on the Board of manufacturing capability, semicondutor Directors and various advisory boards companies are also creating global to continuously revitalize our products, R&D presence. Semiconductor compa- programs, processes and systems to nies from many regions of the world enhance value for our members. have decided to cooperate in the devel- Several examples of the dynamic nature opment of the International Technology our business and the value that the Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), community of our consortium has which identifies the technologies brought about in the year 2000 are 3 About SRC presented in various sections of this these awards, the Landmark report. Some of the key accomplish- Innovation Award, presented by ments, major initiatives and important Mr. Jack Kilby, who was selected events of the year 2000 which demon- to receive the Nobel Prize in 2000 strate the value, the strength and agility of