Applied Materials has contributed equipment and technology to the Centre of Excellence in nanoelectronics at IIT Bombay, valued at $7.5 million.

The equipment comprises applied materials cluster tools for different modules (such as rapid thermal, lower pressure CVD, High k, DPN, RIE, Ashing chamber, PVD chamber, degas chamber, preclean chamber) and has advanced semiconductor manufacturing process capabilities and applications. This equipment will complement the equipment obtained by the nanoelectronics centre, which was established through a grant from the ministry of communications and IT, government of India.

Applied Materials, Inc. is a leader in the field of Nanomanufacturing Technology solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panels, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass.

This endeavour by Applied Materials for the IIT Bombay is to serve as a research and educational platform and for faculty, students and researchers in India to work on breakthrough ideas to invent and innovate technologies that will have an impact on solving current as well as future problems of semiconductor technology.

The lab will serve as a centre of excellence to promote and catalyze research activity contributing to the creation of an ecosystem to nurture and promote the nanomanufacturing industry in India.

As a gesture of goodwill, IIT Bombay has recognized this contribution and has decided to name the laboratory as "Applied Materials Nanomanufacturing Laboratory".

Inaugurated by Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Material, Inc, the facility will have a plaque installed at the location, highlighting and acknowledging Applied Materials'' generous contribution to promote research in nano manufacturing in India.

The IIT Bombay Heritage Fund, an alumni group, has recognised and facilitated this endeavour.

Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials said, "This is a great example of government, university and corporate partnership to help build state of the art technology infrastructure to enable world class research and workforce development," elucidating, "Our goal is to serve as a catalyst in the development of India''s nanomanufacturing eco-system bringing together people, technology and resources to advance our industry both in the country and around the world."

Prof Ashok Misra, director of IIT Bombay said, "We are extremely grateful to Applied Materials for this important donation which will help us achieve global status in the area of nanoelectronics. This donation is particularly appropriate, coming as we enter the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of IIT Bombay."

In addition to the tool donation, Applied Materials has been engaged with research institutions in India for the past two years through several sponsored projects, research scholar exchange programs and sponsorship of entrepreneurial events amounting to $1 million.

The company has sponsored projects at IIT Bombay in the area of Solar Cells, Flash EEPROMs, CMOS Device Reliability, Fuel Cells and Chemical Synthesis, recognising the rich faculty and student research talent available there.

Applied Materials has also been engaged with IIT Bombay in the area of manpower development, by hosting faculty members and graduate students at the Santa Clara facility, and deputing engineers to work in the IIT Bombay Nanoelectronics Center.