| SEMI has announced NanoForum 2004, the inaugural conference for leaders in the nanotechnology and semiconductor industries, to be held November 14-17, 2004 at the Austin Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas. SEMI, a global industry association, represents suppliers of manufacturing technology and materials to the semiconductor, flat panel display, MEMS and related microelectronics industries. SEMI NanoForum will be the first opportunity for SEMI members, along with representatives from nine key markets, to jointly explore nanotechnology applications and opportunities for commercialization. More than 500 industry leaders, executives, business development and marketing strategists, technologists and academia are expected to attend. Specific markets to be addressed at the event will include aerospace and defense, chemicals, consumer, information technology, biotech, energy, industrial controls, automotive and telecom. The announcement of the joint conference comes after President Bush committed $3.7 billion for nanotechnology research and development over the next four years, starting in 2005. Bush signed the bill, known as the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, in December putting into law programs and activities supported by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), an agency that the President has designated at one of the country's highest priorities. "The nanotechnology revolution has begun and it has significant relevance for the semiconductor industry," said SEMI President and CEO, Stanley Myers. "For many years, technology provided by SEMI members has enabled nanometer-scaled operations necessary for semiconductor manufacturing. Now, at NanoForum, SEMI members can discover opportunities in nanomarkets, while nanocompanies learn about available semiconductor technologies that can benefit their current research, design and manufacturing programs." SEMI NanoForum 2004 will include two days of speaker sessions and meetings that will facilitate the exchange of both strategic and technical perspectives between representatives. The University of Texas at Austin will present a one-day tutorial on the basics of nanotechnology. A post-conference workshop is also scheduled. |