New Joint Research and Development Agreement with imec

Kyoto, Japan – March 12, 2025 – SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd. has signed a new Strategic Partner Agreement with imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Through this agreement, we will promote technological research and development that contributes to a sustainable society through synergy between our expertise in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and imec's advanced semiconductor technology.

In recent years, the demand for high-performance semiconductor devices has been expanding, driven by investments in high-performance computing (HPC) and the increasing use of generative AI. To meet the requirements of scaling and stacking of semiconductor devices, more advanced manufacturing processes are needed, along with technologies that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing the diverse and complex challenges faced by the semiconductor industry requires technological development through collaboration with customers, research institutions, companies operating in different fields, and industry- government-academia partnerships.

In over 20 years since joining imec's IIAP (imec Industrial Affiliation Program) in January 2002, we have expanded the scope of our joint research and development. The newly signed Strategic Partner Agreement is a five-year contract, aiming to accelerate advanced semiconductor process R&D through long-term collaboration and expand sustainability activities utilizing the SSTS* program, which we joined in May 2022.

Together with imec, we will continue to provide solutions to maximize the evolution of technological development in the semiconductor industry and added value for device manufacturers focusing on ecological footprint and as such contributing to a sustainable society.

* SSTS (Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems):
A program to support the reduction of environmental impact throughout the semiconductor supply chain. By leveraging imec's knowledge of fab infrastructure, technology, and equipment, and by applying established life cycle analysis methodologies for climate impact, the environmental impact of the semiconductor manufacturing process can be quantified for existing technologies and projected for future ones. Click here for more details.