The agreement provides a framework within which a variety of new projects will be executed over the course of the coming five years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fraunhofer CNT and ASM will develop new processes and integration methods, starting on ASM's Advance series A412 300 mm vertical batch furnace configured for atomic layer deposition (ALD) and low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD).

Fraunhofer CNT will provide space and infrastructure for the A412 system in its clean room. In the first project, the objective is to develop and integrate novel batch ALD processes and materials for use in CMOS logic technology.

In addition to 40 clean room tools, scientists at Fraunhofer CNT offer considerable expertise in process and materials characterization as well as the characterization of nano-electronic devices. Pre-processed test or product wafers provided by ASM or its customers will be processed at Fraunhofer CNT under strict cross contamination requirements as developed through several years in cooperation with leading edge IC manufacturers. Thus, the results can be transferred immediately into production. This enables our partners to reduce their capital expenditures and accelerate their developments.

Prof. Peter Kücher, head of the Fraunhofer CNT stated, "We are looking forward to a successful long term cooperation in developing innovative, cost competitive processes for CVD and ALD together with a leading global equipment supplier such as ASM".

Ivo Raaijmakers, Chief Technology Officer of ASM added, "We have successfully collaborated with CNT for over 5 years, and are confident that this new cooperative R&D framework will enable other successful projects”.