Soitec (Euronext Paris), the world's leading supplier of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers and other engineered substrates, and the French Agency for Industrial Innovation today announced the European Commission's authorization for the funding of the strategic R&D program, NanoSmart. The total cost of the program, for all partners, comes to 200 million Euros over five years. The Soitec Group will receive public money amounting to 62 million Euros, with 34 million Euros consisting of a direct subsidy, and 28 million Euros representing an advance to be refunded-depending on the program's commercial success.
This ambitious R&D project will involve Soitec, its subsidiary Picogiga, based in Les Ulis, France, and Leti (the electronic and information technology laboratory), part of the public French body CEA. NanoSmart is a strategic program for Europe, and will develop advanced substrates for microelectronic and optoelectronic components, spotlighting the significant role played in substrate engineering innovation, not only by France but more specifically by Bernin and Minalogic, the "Pole de Competitivite" near Grenoble.
As a nanotechnology research platform, NanoSmart will develop a new generation of advanced materials to improve the performance and electrical consumption of image processors, high-frequency telecommunications components, power components for the automotive industry and home audiovisual equipment and LEDs for lighting.
"We are very pleased to have received the European Commission's approval for this ambitious and strategic program, not only for Soitec, but also for France and Europe. Advanced substrates represent a unique opportunity to strengthen Europe's position in the high-tech industry, where competitiveness is based on innovation," said Andre-Jacques Auberton-Herve, president and chief executive officer of Soitec. "We are grateful to AII for its support and policy of promoting innovation in companies of our size, alongside the large French industrial groups."
AII wanted to support Soitec in its new innovation cycle, using technological breakthroughs shaping the markets of the future. They also wanted to drive this French growth company to the level of the world's substrate leaders. This action answers AII's core business mission by sustaining the French industry through promoting innovation and significant projects.
This program is an integral part of the Soitec Group's strategic development plan for 2006-2010, unveiled on July 6, 2006. Soitec intends to boost R&D at Bernin over this period to allow the NanoSmart program to benefit from the presence of the production teams in view of industrial deployment.
This partnership will help the circulation of knowledge in all domains of nanotechnologies both for European and worldwide research.