Prof. Jim Greer (ASCENT Co-ordinator) delivered a 30 minute online presentation followed by an opportunity to engage through emailing into the session for the questions & answers.
Jim outlines the technology and infrastructure on offer at all three partner sites, imec in Belgium; CEA-Leti in France and Tyndall in Ireland while also giving examples of projects funded to date.
The webinar was a free event for members of the ASCENT community and for all those who registered in advanced of the event.
In Europe, we have some of the most advanced R&D labs in nanotechnology fabrication and our academia and universities are involved in research that will shape the future of technology. At the same time we have a thriving league of SMEs specialized in, among others, design and modelling. For a number of reasons, these communities have not always been able to profit to the full extent from each other’s results. To improve this situation, Europe’s three main nanotech labs have set up the project ASCENT, supported by the EC, to organize easier access to R&D material and results for SMEs and academia. Valentina Terzieva, Manager Public Funding and Academic Relations at imec, fills us in about the background and explains how it works.
ASCENT stand at European Nanoelectronics Forum 2015
in Berlin, Germany
With a history that dates back to 2001, the annual European Nanoelectronics Forum (ENF) has forged a place in the agendas of everyone interested in this domain from businesses big and small, to policy makers to researchers.
European Nanoelectronics Infrastructure now open for access
Tyndall National Institute (Ireland) and its partners in the EU-funded programme ASCENT (Access to European Nanoelectronics Network) announced today the launch of the programme, enabling researchers to gain fast and easy access to Europe’s leading nanoelectronics institutes. ASCENT enables access to advanced nanoelectronics device data (14nm CMOS and beyond), test chips and characterisation equipment at the Tyndall National Institute in Ireland, CEA-Leti in France and imec in Belgium. This allows the nanoelectronics research community to explore exciting new developments in advanced CMOS devices and meet the challenges created in an ever-evolving and demanding digital world.
The ASCENT partners’ facilities are truly world-class, representing over €2 billion of combined research infrastructure with unique credentials in advanced semiconductor processing, nanofabrication, electrical characterisation and atomistic and TCAD modelling. This is the first time that access to these state-of-the-art devices and test structures will become available anywhere in the world.
Over 70 researchers from 20 countries world-wide have already signed up through the ASCENT web site www.ascent.network. Access is fast and easy and financial support is provided to Users of the facilities. The three partners met in Cork, Ireland to launch the programme. The ASCENT Project Co-ordinator Prof. Jim Greer said he was delighted to see such a rapid uptake from the research community and encouraged researchers to join the ASCENT network and avail of this unique opportunity.
Dr Valentina Terzieva (imec, Belgium), David Holden (CEA-Leti, France) and Prof. Jim Greer (Tyndall National Institute, Ireland) at the launch of ASCENT programme at Tyndall National Institute in Cork, Ireland
21st October 2015
ASCENT stand at Nanoweek Conference
in University of Limerick, Ireland
This event brings together international speakers with direct experience in building technology companies, representatives from Irish industry, research and investment communities to share experiences in the commercialisation and application of nanotechnology and to highlight the nanoscience research and expertise currently available to industry in Irish Research Institutes.
Over 140 delegates attended this annual conference.
ASCENT – Access to European Nanoelectronics Network
Goes live on 4th November
ASCENT offers unparalleled access to European Nanoelectronics Infrastructure including the world’s most advanced 14 nm and beyond-CMOS nanoelectronics data and test structures.
Tyndall National Institute in Ireland, CEA-Leti in France and imec in Belgium, leading European nanoelectronics institutes, have entered into a collaborative open-access project called ASCENT (Access to European Nanoelectronics Network), to mobilise European research capabilities like never before.
ASCENT will share best scientific and technological practices, form a knowledge-innovation hub, train new researchers in advanced methodologies and establish a first-class research network of advanced technology designers, modelers and manufacturers in Europe. The three partners will provide researchers access to advanced device data, test chips and characterization equipment.
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructures Programme ASCENT will enable the European research community to explore exciting new developments in industry and meet the challenges created in an ever-evolving and demanding digital world.
CORK CITY, Ireland – June 10, 2015 – ASCENT opens the doors to the world’s most advanced nanoelectronics infrastructures in Europe. Tyndall National Institute in Ireland, CEA-Leti in France and imec in Belgium, leading European nanoelectronics institutes, have entered into a collaborative open-access project called ASCENT (Access to European Nanoelectronics Network), to mobilise European research capabilities like never before.
The €4.7 million project will make the unique research infrastructure of three of Europe’s premier research centres available to the nanoelectronics modelling-and-characterisation research community.
ASCENT will share best scientific and technological practices, form a knowledge-innovation hub, train new researchers in advanced methodologies and establish a first-class research network of advanced technology designers, modellers and manufacturers in Europe. All this will strengthen Europe’s knowledge in the integral area of nanoelectronics research.
The three partners will provide researchers access to advanced device data, test chips and characterisation equipment. This access programme will enable the research community to explore exciting new developments in industry and meet the challenges created in an ever-evolving and demanding digital world.
The partners’ respective facilities are truly world-class, representing over €2 billion of combined research infrastructure with unique credentials in advanced semiconductor processing, nanofabrication, heterogeneous and 3D integration, electrical characterisation and atomistic and TCAD modelling. This is the first time that access to these state-of-the-art devices and test structures will become available anywhere in the world.
The project will engage industry directly through an ‘Industry Innovation Committee’ and will feed back the results of the open research to device manufacturers, giving them crucial information to improve the next generation of electronic devices.
Speaking on behalf of project coordinator, Tyndall National Institute, CEO Dr. Kieran Drain said: “We are delighted to coordinate the ASCENT programme and to be partners with world-leading institutes CEA-Leti and imec. Tyndall has a great track record in running successful collaborative open-access programmes, delivering real economic and societal impact. ASCENT has the capacity to change the paradigm of European research through unprecedented access to cutting-edge technologies. We are confident that ASCENT will ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of global nanoelectronics development.”
“The ASCENT project is an efficient, strategic way to open the complementary infrastructure and expertise of Tyndall, Leti and imec to a broad range of researchers from Europe’s nanoelectronics modelling-and-characterisation sectors,” said Leti CEO Marie-Noëlle Semeria. “Collaborative projects like this, that bring together diverse, dedicated and talented people, have synergistic affects that benefit everyone involved, while addressing pressing technological challenges.”
“In the frame of the ASCENT project, three of Europe’s leading research institutes – Tyndall, imec and Leti – join forces in supporting the EU research and academic community, SMEs and industry by providing access to test structures and electrical data of state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies,” stated Luc Van den hove, CEO of imec. “This will enable them to explore exciting new opportunities in the ‘More Moore’ as well as the ‘More than Moore’ domains, and will allow them to participate and compete effectively on the global stage for the development of advanced nano-electronics.”
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 654384.
