Through the collaboration GLOBALFOUNDRIES will offer its leading-edge foundry capabilities to Fraunhofer IIS as an aggregator, and Fraunhofer will enable the academic network in Europe to get access to GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ process technologies and Process Design Kits (PDK) via EUROPRACTICE.

“As one of the largest foundries worldwide and the largest wafer manufacturer in Europe we are proud to enter this prestigious program,” said Karl Lange, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Vice President of Sales for Europe. “With Fraunhofer as channel partner, combined with our broad technology portfolio and process know-how, we will add significant value to EUROPRACTICE.”

“The offer of GLOBALFOUNDRIES technologies down to 28nm to Europe’s universities and research institutes is an important step for EUROPRACTICE and will stimulate education and research in IC design,” said Josef Sauerer, Head of the Integrated Circuits and Systems Department at Fraunhofer IIS. “Also, our contract research with industries will benefit from GLOBALFOUNDRIES' advanced technology portfolio”

Fraunhofer IIS and GLOBALFOUNDRIES started their collaboration in 2004 with the successful launch of 180nm and later 55nm programs. The extended collaboration will introduce technology nodes down to 28nm in the European Wafer Shuttle Program, helping European academia and research institutes to get access and support for CAD tools and ASIC prototyping at reduced costs.

About GLOBALFOUNDRIES

GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the world's first full-service semiconductor foundry with a truly global footprint. Launched in March 2009, the company has quickly achieved scale as the second largest foundry in the world, providing a unique combination of advanced technology and manufacturing to more than 160 customers.

With operations in Singapore, Germany and the United States, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the only foundry that offers the flexibility and security of manufacturing centers spanning three continents. The company's three 300mm fabs and five 200mm fabs provide the full range of process technologies from mainstream to the leading edge. This global manufacturing footprint is supported by major facilities for research, development and design enablement located near hubs of semiconductor activity in the United States, Europe and Asia. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC). For more information, visit http://www.globalfoundries.com.

About Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

Fraunhofer IIS, established in 1985 and based in Erlangen, with additional locations in Nürnberg, Fürth, Würzburg, Ilmenau and Dresden, is today the largest Fraunhofer Institute in the Fraunhofer Society. More than 750 employees work in contract research for industry, service provider companies and public institutions. Fraunhofer IIS became world famous with its significant involvement in the development of the MP3 and MPEG AAC audio encoding processes. In close co-operation with clients from industry, more than 150 scientists conduct research and development in the field of design automation, integrated circuits and sensor systems. Further research areas are digital radio, audio and multimedia technology, digital cinema technology, wired, wireless and optical networks, localisation and navigation, high-speed cameras, ultra-fine-focus x-ray technology, image processing, medical technology and supply chain services. For more information, visit http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de.

About EUROPRACTICE

During the past years, the IC service of EUROPRACTICE has been developed to one of the most successful ASIC prototype and small volume service in Europe with customers from more than 55 countries world-wide. Annually more than 535 ASICs are prototyped on Multi Project Wafer runs and more than 100 small volumes are delivered to industry. The European Commission is funding the EUROPRACTICE service through a contract under the IST FP7 program. Through this funding 650 European academia and research institutes are able to get access and support to CAD tools and ASIC prototyping at reduced costs. ASIC prototype and small volume turnkey offering for industry and academia are offered by IMEC and Fraunhofer IIS, access to CAD tools for academia is offered by STFC. For more information, visit http://www.europractice-ic.com.