The semiconductor industry represents a strategically important part of the economies of the U.S. and, more recently, the state of Washington. Since the inception of the first integrated circuit (IC) in the 1960s, a new industrial revolution has affected, and continues to affect, nearly every aspect of our lives. IC’s have changed the way we communicate, our modes of transportation, the way we manage information, and the types of entertainment available to us.

The semiconductor industry is a large growth industry in the state with a $3 billion investment over the last 10 years in the Vancouver region alone. It is projected that $7 billion more may be invested over the next 10 years. As a result of the large number of semiconductor companies locating in the Portland-Vancouver area, the region has been coined the "silicon forest". A key to fueling this growth is a strong education and research program in strategically focused areas. Stanford University and UC Berkeley spurred the growth and development of the semiconductor industry in the Silicon Valley. They developed key technological advances, trained highly skilled engineers and scientists, and provided continuing education opportunities. We intend to be a catalyst to bring together a diverse combination of expertise and coordinate a unified research and education effort in conjunction with the semiconductor industry throughout the state.

The research will focus on the analysis and synthesis of integrated circuit materials as well as the development of design methodologies for overcoming the barriers to integrated semi-conductor systems. This will include innovations in materials, devices and chip characterization, high-speed on- and off-chip communication, and the development of fully integrated devices for efficient and reliable high performance communication devices. These are research areas for which we have internationally recognized faculty and on-going research programs. The primary change will be re-focusing these efforts toward the semiconductor industry. Some key research challenges that will be addressed are:

• Materials such as copper for high-speed inter-connections on-chip (this solves the speed bottleneck for future generations of semiconductors).
• New approaches using optics for on- and off-chip high-speed communication (without these new approaches, electronic equipment will not be able to exploit the speed inherent in the semiconductor technology).
• Innovative analog and RF design techniques in which new approaches and methods for translating analog waveforms into a digitized form for computer processing will be exploited.
• Enhanced reliability of lead bonds in integrated circuits (this effort will focus on the mechanisms of failure so that the materials and methods can be modified to increase the overall reliability).

To fund a comprehensive research effort of this type, federal, state/university and industry sources must be brought together.

Federal: We are currently applying to the NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program for $3-4 million each year for up to 10 years. Other sources of federal funding will be pursued as well.

Industry: We currently have a nationally recognized research activity supported by 25 companies and the National Science Foundation (NSF) known as The Center for the Design of Analog/Digital Integrated Circuits (CDADIC). We will expand our current industrial base of 25 memberships (each $35,000) to 40 memberships.

University The university contribution will be in the form of space, administrative

& State: support, and faculty and staff positions.

State funding will be used to enhance this strength within the university including two faculty, two technicians, equipment and operations. The center’s research, both short- and long-term, will focus on eliminating technology barriers so that U.S. semiconductor industries can maintain their competitive edge. This program will also enhance the lifestyle of Washington residents through high-technology job opportunities.

• Educational and economic gains through the partnership of university, state and federal government, and industry (Anticipated 5 times matching on state investment).
• Undergraduate education enhanced in strategically significant areas (approximately 25 additional undergraduates/year).
• Research strengths leveraged to produce an economic impact through highly trained graduates and company startups.
• Innovative research for a future generation of semiconductors that will confer competitive advantages to statewide industries through the transfer of new technologies.