imec has inked a partnership deal with Tohoku University during the Belgian economic mission to Japan. The agreement was signed in the presence of his Royal Highness Prince Philip of Belgium.
According to the terms of the deal, imec and Tohoku University will collaborate in several common research fields. The partnership deal puts up the stage for upcoming collaboration projects between Tohoku University and imec where professors, research staffs and students will be swapped between the two organizations. In addition, the deal allows the swapping of samples between both organizations and sets the framework for combined research on particular topics.
In the last five years, imec and Tohoku University have already partnered on MEMS packaging, sophisticated interconnects and low-power sensor circuit readout design. In the coming years, the partnership will be extended to wireless communication, biosensors, 3D integration technology and magnetic random access memory process technology.
imec aims at establishing strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships with outstanding universities involved in research fields where imec is also performing analyses. The partnership will also leverage imec’s advanced 200 and 300 mm cleanroom facilities.
imec’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Luc Van den hove stated that strategic partnerships with world-class universities like Tohoku University are significant for the company to ensure the development of innovative technologies and ideas. The company fills the gap between basic research at academics and applied research at the industry. The collaboration between the research groups of the company and universities promotes innovation and creativity and speed up the realization of innovative results. In this manner, the company continues to serve as an innovation engine to deliver superior research results 3 to 10 years prior to industrial requirements.