Applied Materials, Inc. the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions announced the opening of the country’s first Nanomanufacturing lab at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Applied Materials has contributed equipment and technology to the Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics at IIT Bombay.
The equipment contributed by Applied Materials is valued at 7.5 million USD. It consists of Applied Materials cluster Tools for different modules (such as Rapid Thermal, Lower Pressure CVD, High k, DPN, RIE, Ashing Chamber, PVD Chamber, Degas Chamber, Preclean Chamber) and has advanced semiconductor manufacturing process capabilities and applications. This equipment will complement the equipment obtained by the Nanoelectronics Centre, which was established through a grant from the Government of India.
This endeavor by Applied Materials for IIT Bombay, is to serve as a research and educational platform and for faculty, students and researchers in India to work on breakthrough ideas to invent and innovate technologies that will have an impact on solving current as well as future problems of semiconductor technology. The lab will serve as a centre of excellence to promote and catalyze research activity contributing to the creation of an ecosystem to nurture and promote the Nanomanufacturing industry in India.
As a gesture of goodwill, IIT Bombay, has recognized this contribution and has decided to name the laboratory “Applied Materials Nanomanufacturing Laboratory”. It is being inaugurated by Mr. Mike Splinter, President and CEO of Applied Material, Inc. A plaque will be installed highlighting and acknowledging Applied Materials’ generous contribution to promote research in Nano Manufacturing. The IIT Bombay Heritage Fund, an alumni group, has recognized and facilitated this endeavor.
Mike Splinter, President and CEO of Applied Materials said, “This is a great example of government, university and corporate partnership to help build state of the art technology infrastructure to enable world class research and workforce development,” he further elucidated, “Our goal is to serve as a catalyst in the development of India’s nanomanufacturing eco-system bringing together people, technology and resources to advance our industry both in the country and around the world.”
Prof. Ashok Misra, Director of IIT Bombay said, “We are extremely grateful to Applied Materials for this important donation which will help us achieve global status in the area of nanoelectronics. This donation is particularly appropriate, coming as we enter the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of IIT Bombay.”
In addition to the tool donation, Applied Materials has been engaged with research institutions in India for the past 2 years through several sponsored projects, research scholar exchange programs and sponsorship of entrepreneurial events amounting to 1 million USD. The company has sponsored projects at IIT Bombay in the area of Solar Cells, Flash EEPROMs, CMOS Device Reliability, Fuel Cells and Chemical Synthesis, recognizing the rich faculty and student research talent available there. Further, Applied Materials has also been engaged with IIT Bombay in the area of manpower development, by hosting faculty members and graduate students at the Santa Clara facility, and deputing engineers to work in the IIT Bombay Nanoelectronics Center.
Mr. Mike Splinter, President and CEO is a 30-year old veteran of the semiconductor manufacturing operations globally and is the man behind some of the most significant innovations and transitions in this industry. On this momentous occasion a MoU will be signed on collaborative R&D projects between Applied Materials Inc., and IIT Bombay, Mumbai.