JSR and imec Formalize Joint Venture for EUV Lithography Resist Solutions

JSR Corporation, a leading materials company, and imec, a world-leading nanoelectronics R&D center, announced today the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement which formalized the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed on May 12, 2015 between JSR’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Belgium, JSR Micro NV, and imec, enabling manufacturing and quality control of EUV lithography materials for the semiconductor industry.  The new company, EUV Resist Manufacturing & Qualification Center NV (EUV RMQC), is incorporated with a majority of the total shares held by JSR Micro NV. 
   
As EUV technology advances, the IC industry is putting pressure on materials suppliers and other vendors to prepare the manufacturing infrastructure and quality control capabilities required for taking EUV into high volume manufacturing.

“We understand the importance of EUV lithography for the future of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies,” said Bart Denturck, President of EUV RMQC and Director and Plant Manager of JSR Micro NV. “To meet those industry needs and requirements, two world-leading organizations are bringing their expertise into this joint work. EUV RMQC will provide two crucial roles for EUV lithography – superior, high-quality manufacturing capability and expertise and services for quality control with advanced tools. We believe this partnership will deliver great EUV lithography solutions to the industry.”

“EUV lithography is critical to the advanced nodes of the future, and imec is focused on supporting the entire supply chain to prepare an EUV infrastructure for high volume manufacturing. Our world-class cleanroom makes use of the most advanced EUV tools worldwide, making us the perfect partner for research and collaboration,” stated An Steegen, Senior Vice President at imec. “This joint venture with JSR underscores imec’s dedication to support material suppliers, giving them access to the most advanced process flow and state-of-the-art equipment. It is an excellent example of how joining forces and leveraging strengths can help the semiconductor industry to realize a shared goal.”

EUV lithography is considered as one of the main drivers to extend Moore’s law toward single digit nanometer technology nodes. imec and JSR’s collaboration will allow both companies to leverage their strengths when delivering photoresist solutions for the semiconductor industry to manufacture the most advanced devices.

Profile of the New Joint Company
Company:     EUV Resist Manufacturing & Qualification Center NV (EUV RMQC)
Function:     EUV Resist Manufacturing (Production & Quality Control)
• Production: Dedicated production lines installed at JSR Micro NV
• Quality Control: Utilize full‐scale EUV Scanner and other tools at imec facility
Location:     JSR Micro NV premises in Leuven, Belgium

About JSR Corporation

JSR Corporation is a multinational company employing more than 6,000 people worldwide and a leading materials supplier in a variety of technology driven markets. JSR's global network is headquartered in Tokyo (Japan) and has factories and offices in Europe, USA, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. JSR is a research-oriented organization that pursues close collaborations with leading innovators in a number of industries that are a key to the present and future welfare of human society: life-sciences, energy storage, synthetic rubbers, electronic materials, display and optical materials. For more information about JSR Corporation, please go to www.jsr.co.jp.

About imec

imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China, India and Japan. Its staff of about 2,300 people includes almost 700 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2014, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 363 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be. Stay up to date about what’s happening at imec with the monthly imec magazine, available for tablets and smartphones (as an app for iOS and Android), or via the website www.imec.be/imecmagazine
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a "stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.)and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.) and imec India (Imec India Private Limited).

Contacts
JSR Corporation    
Corporate Communications Dept.
Yuki Kawashima    
+81 3-6218-3517   
yuki_kawashima@jsr.co.jp   

imec
Press officer and communications specialist
Hanne Degans
+32 16 28 17 69
Hanne.Degans@imec.be