Beijing, China – August 7, 2001  -- IMEC, Europe's leading independent center for microelectronics and ICT R&D, today announces that they have opened a business development office in Shanghai to strengthen the interaction with Chinese companies and to set up new partnerships in China.

The Chinese high-tech industry is rapidly gaining importance. With its huge market and its growing investments in R&D in the field of semiconductor technologies, China is becoming an attractive business partner.

Chinese companies show major interest in IMEC’s business model, which is recognized worldwide as one of the most successful partnership schemes in research and development. The collaborations are based on shared costs, risks and talent, and are built on sound intellectual property rules.

IMEC sees several opportunities in China ranging from R&D activities, over development of products for the home market such as sensors and systems-on-chip (SoC), which are increasingly being used in information and communication appliances, to training designers in state-of-the-art and advanced technologies for system design.

The office in Shanghai will ease the interaction with Chinese companies and will improve the information flow between IMEC and its Chinese contract partners. It will also enhance the communication between Chinese companies and IMEC with respect to new strategies, new programs and new technical results.

Besides bringing its own know-how to the Chinese industry, IMEC also wants to form a bridge for its spin-off companies to bring their technology to the Chinese market.

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Notes to editors:

About IMEC

IMEC was founded in 1984 and today is Europe's leading independent research center for the development and licensing of microelectronics, and information and communication technologies (ICT). IMEC is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has a staff of more than 1100 people including 350 industrial residents and guest researchers.

Its more than $100 million revenue is derived from agreements and contracts with Flemish government, the EC, MEDEA, the European Space Agency, equipment and material suppliers and semiconductor 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. IMEC has a sub-0.25µm 200mm pilot line and is ISO9001 certified. News from IMEC is located at www.imec.be.

For more information:

Katrien Marent

Communication Manager

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

IMEC, Kapeldreef 75

B- 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Tel +32 16 28 18 80

Fax +32 16 28 16 37

Email: Katrien.Marent@imec.be