Addressing the long-term research
needs of the semiconductor industry, Texas Instruments, the
State of Texas, the Nanoelectronics Research Corporation (NERC) and The
University of Texas System announced a $30 million investment in university
nanoelectronics programs. Starting with the establishment of the Southwest
Academy of Nanoelectronics (SWAN), headquartered at The University of Texas
at Austin, the effort will attract top academic researchers to develop and
commercialize new nanoelectronics materials and devices that hold the
promise of taking the electronics industry beyond today's chip
technologies. Texas Instruments is the lead corporate investor in the
effort, with a $5 million contribution.
"The Southwest Academy of Nanotechnology will play a critical role in
helping attract the world's brightest minds to our universities and
ensuring that the technologies and jobs of the future remain in Texas,"
said Governor Rick Perry. "I am proud to see this important research
institution take root here in our state. It not only reaffirms Texas'
position as the nation's second largest high tech and semiconductor state,
it will be the foundation for future growth in this important sector of our
economy."
Billions of times every day -- at the turn of a key, flip of a switch,
or push of a button -- semiconductor chips at the heart of complex
electronics play a vital role in the global economy. The results from this
initiative will enable the semiconductor industry to extend Moore's Law --
the 40-year- old prediction that the industry can double the number of
transistors it places on a computer chip every couple of years -- far
beyond the year 2020, when the potential limit of the current industry
technology is expected to be reached.
"TI is excited about the state's commitment to excellence in
nanoelectronics and the establishment of the SWAN here in Texas," said Rich
Templeton, chief executive officer of Texas Instruments. "This
collaboration -- involving the states, the university system and private
industry -- exemplifies the call from the federal government for private
and public partnerships that promote American innovation and furthers our
ability to leverage federal funds from the National Science Foundation and
other agencies."
SWAN is the third of three new university-based nanoelectronics
research centers managed by NERC under the auspices of the Semiconductor
Research Corporation (SRC). Six member companies of the Semiconductor
Industry Association (SIA), including AMD, Freescale Semiconductor, IBM,
Intel, Micron Technology and Texas Instruments established NERC as a
subsidiary of the SRC in 2005 to specifically find additional options
beyond the CMOS technology that underpins today's electronics. NERC is
working closely with the National Science Foundation to align
nanoelectronics research taking place at various Nanotechnology Centers of
Excellence around the country.
SWAN joins the Western Institute of Nanoelectronics (WIN) in California
and the Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery and Exploration (INDEX) in
New York as the third regional center established by NERC. Strong links
between these centers and the participating universities will be
instrumental in reaching the 15-year goal of demonstrating novel computing
devices that will operate beyond the forecasted limits of today's
technologies.
"The challenge for nanoelectronics is to ensure that society's
expectations for electronic applications can continue to be met," said
Larry Sumney, CEO and president, SRC. "Thanks to efforts of those like TI
and the State of Texas, these universities will work with industry on
initial research needed to enable future breakthroughs in nanoelectronics.
This progress is crucial to the nation and the world's continued economic
growth."
Conventional electronics use electrical fields to control the flow of
electrons using only their charge, but other observed phenomena at the
atomic level may be able to process vastly more information while using
less power. The SWAN research will focus on development of computing
devices that leverage quantum properties such as spin and phase to
represent the 1's and 0's of modern digital electronics. By creating a
multi-university center, SWAN will optimize the outcome by promoting
collaboration and coordinating resources.
"The University of Texas System is making significant investments in
its faculty, facilities and students to build world class engineering and
advanced research programs at its institutions," said Mark G. Yudof,
chancellor of The University of Texas System. "This nanoelectronics
initiative -- through the efforts of SWAN and the other NRI centers -- will
help build momentum across the state and the nation and ensure that Texas
is a leader in this vital industry and is well positioned for future
success."
The UT System Board of Regents in July approved $10 million for funding
facilities, labs and capital equipment for eight senior faculty members.
Funds from TI, the State of Texas, the UT System and NERC will support
the initial three-year program. Additional opportunities for expanded
exploration are anticipated among the participants beyond the basic
research phase. SWAN research activities will be supported by a number of
UT System institutions including the Arlington, Austin and Dallas campuses,
as well as Texas A&M University, Rice University, Arizona State University,
the University of Maryland and the University of Notre Dame.
