As part of this cooperation, new research and development projects have been under way since the beginning of 2010. These are aimed at multimedia, image processing and navigation applications in the automotive, industrial and telecommunications markets.

For this purpose, Fujitsu is making available its analogue and digital nanometer technology libraries, IP (intellectual property) pool and expertise. Fraunhofer IIS is complementing this with its own IP and decades of experience in IC and system design. Chip designs, right up to the GDSII data, are devel­oped and evaluated together with customers. Fujitsu is producing prototypes in 90 nm and 65 nm CMOS techno­logies on multi-project wafers (MPW) at significantly reduced mask costs.

This means that the technology partners of Fujitsu and the ­ IC developers at Fraunhofer IIS can implement fast and highly efficient solutions. There is potential for business models from prototypes (MPWs) via small series through to series production.

“Industry, research and training all benefit from this co-­operation. It grants cost-effective and dependable access to the latest nanometer technology for research projects, pilot series and products”, comments Josef Sauerer, Head of Integrated Circuits and Systems at Fraunhofer IIS.

Norbert Schuhmann, Digital Systems Group Manager, adds: “Particularly worth noting is the quality of the analogue and digital Fujitsu libraries, the easy access to their IP pool and their professional and smooth approach”.

Mark Ellins, Director for ASIC and Foundry Services at Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe said ”We are very pleased to be able to work together with such an experienced design partner as Fraunhofer IIS, and believe our cooperation will provide significant benefits to developers requiring access to advanced process technologies“.