Leuven, 26 October 1999....IMEC and STMicroelectronics have today announced the signing of a major two-year collaboration agreement for the development and integration of SBT ferroelectric memory cells, ready for transfer, into ST's advanced 0.35 micron CMOS technology.

The use of on-chip, embedded non-volatile memory has increased dramatically in recent years in line with the demand for new, low power applications.  With the current rapid pace of development of deep submicron technologies, the use of ferroelectric memories that can be programmed at low voltage will become an attractive alternative. New emerging applications such as contactless (RF-powered) Smart Cards require low-power, fast programming speed and a need a large number of re-write cycles. Ferroelectric memories can offer such performances, as well as  and have the potential for competitive cell size, cost and compatibility with submicron technologies.

to be compatible with more advanced processes in development. SBT (Strontium-Bismuth-Tantalate) material will be used as the ferroelectric material due to it's its superior voltage scalability.  Because of the significance of this project and the short timescales involved, development will be carried out by a joint engineering team working at IMEC’s 8” pilot line in Leuven and at the ST Development Centre in Catania, Italy.  An extension to ST’s current 8” fabrication facility is planned to handle production once the technology has been transferred.The development will be carried out by a joint engineering team in the IMEC 8" pilot line in Leuven and in the ST Development Center in Catania, Italy and is targeted for production in an extension to ST's current 8" fabrication facility.

The collaboration will capitalise on the leadership of ST in smartcard ICcs and  a broad range of non-volatile memories, as well as on the work of IMEC in recent years on the optimisation of non-volatile memory based on the ferroelectric material PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate), resulting in the  with IMEC's  successful integration of PZT capacitors into its 0.5 micron CMOS process. Ferroelectric technology is targeted to applications requiring fast, low-power read/write memory such as contactless smartcards, (both either microcontroller andor memory based), and embedded applications as well as  and stand-alone NVRAMs.

Commenting on this joint initiative, Gilbert DeclerckLudo Deferm, IMEC's Vice Presidentt, Business Development said, "This collaboration affords IMEC the unique opportunity to develop ferroelectrics on a commercial basis and to become a centre of excellence for ferroelectronic materials and integration."

Welcoming the collaboration, Bruno Beverina, Group Vice President and Assistant General Manager of ST's Memory Products Group, said, "ST is a leader today in a broad range of non-volatile memories and in smartcard products. The collaboration with IMEC will enable us to maintain our leadership with a new technology which is important for will offer significant advantage to our customers in the future."

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Notes to editors

ABOUT IMEC

IMEC was founded in 1984 and today is Europe's leading independent research centre for the development and licensing of state-of-the-art microelectronic technologies.  IMEC is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and employs about 850 people, of whom 75 percent are highly qualified scientists and engineers.  Its $88 million revenue is derived from agreements and contracts with government agencies, aerospace and semiconductor industry companies worldwide.  IMEC's activities concentrate on: design of integrated information and communication systems; silicon process technology; silicon technology and device integration;, microsystems, components and packaging; advanced training in microelectronics.

ABOUT STMICROELECTRONICS

STMicroelectronics (formerly SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics) is a global independent semiconductor company, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the ParisBourse and on the Milan Stock Exchange. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronics applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

ABOUT STMICROELECTRONICS

STMicroelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company which designs, develops, manufactures and markets a range of semiconductor integrated circuits ("ICs") and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems.

The company is a world leader in Non-Volatile Memories and Smartcard Products, manufacturing a broad range which includes Flash memories, OTP (one time programmable) and UV (ultra violet erase) EPROMs, serial and parallel access EEPROMs, Application Specific Memories (ASM) and Non-Volatile RAMs. In addition the Company specializes in both memory based and microcomputer based Smartcard ICs for contact and contactless applications.

IMEC

Marianne Van den Broeck

Public Relations and Marketing Communications Manager

IMEC, Kapeldreef 75

B- 3001 Leuven, Belgium

http://www.imec.be

Tel +32 16 28 14 91 Fax +32 16 28 16 37

Email: Marianne.vandenbroeck@imec.be

STMicroelectronics

Richard Stockdill

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Email: richard.stockdill@st.com

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