Applied Materials Joins Semiconductor Research Corporation Consortium

Applied Materials Joins Semiconductor Research Corporation Consortium

April 04, 2006

Global University Research Consortium Pursues Advanced Chip Materials and Processes

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 4
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Research Corporation
(SRC), a leading university-research consortium for
semiconductors and related technologies, announced today
that Applied Materials, Inc. has joined the consortium's
community of 23 companies and partners plus 100
universities worldwide. 

    "As the leading chip equipment company, Applied
Materials is one of the semiconductor industry's major
technology innovators and a key contributor to the
continuing advance of Moore's Law," said Larry Sumney,
CEO and president of the SRC.  "The addition of Applied
provides a strategic expansion of SRC's ecosystem and
enhances the industry's ability to continue to move
university research toward commercial application. 
Applied's presence means a strengthening of each of SRC's
areas of vision for the industry." 

    Working with SRC members, Applied Materials will take a
lead role in collaborating on enhancements to the research
agenda for materials and processes associated with
semiconductor manufacturing. Applied joined other SRC
members last week in planning the next five years of
research by consortium members for the advancement of the
chip industry.

    "The industry's ability to sustain Moore's Law
through its technology roadmap depends on extensive
collaboration in selecting and supporting the most
promising research directions," noted Mark Pinto,
chief technology officer of Applied Materials.  "The
SRC has a uniquely valuable and proven model for research
and collaboration between industry and academia that will
help ensure continued innovation in an era requiring many
new materials and technologies. This involvement in SRC is
an outstanding complement to Applied's university support
programs around the world."

    The SRC's mission is to manage a strategic range of
worldwide, consortial, academic-based research and
education programs, each matching the needs of their
sponsoring entities. 

    About the SRC

    As the pioneer of collaborative research for the
semiconductor industry, SRC's goal is to define common
industry needs, invest in and manage the research that
would expand the industry knowledge base and attract
premier students to help innovate and transfer
semiconductor technology to the commercial industry.
Established in 1982, SRC is based in Research Triangle
Park, NC, and drives long-term semiconductor research
contracts on behalf of its participating members: Advanced
Micro Devices, Inc., Applied Materials, Inc., Axcelis
Technologies, Inc., Cadence Design Systems, Freescale
Semiconductor, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Intel
Corp., LSI Logic Corp., Mentor Graphics Corp., The Mitre
Corp., Novellus Systems, Inc., Rohm and Haas Electronic
Materials and Texas Instruments Corp. Strategic partners
are SEMATECH, Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International and Semiconductor Industry Association. SRC
also seeks to leverage funding from global government
agencies.  For more information, visit http://www.src.org
.

    About Applied Materials

    Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the global leader
in nanomanufacturing technology(TM) solutions for the
electronics industry with a broad portfolio of innovative
equipment, service and software products.  At Applied
Materials, nanomanufacturing technology is applied to
improve the way people live.  Learn more at
http://www.appliedmaterials.com .

    For more information, please contact:

     Scott Stevens of SRC
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Betty Newboe of Applied Materials 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Semiconductor Research Corporation