Intel taps junctionless transistor research

LONDON – Intel Corp. has announced that it has signed a three-year, $1.5 million research collaboration with the Tyndall National Institute at the University of Cork in Ireland. The research collaboration while broad, covering materials and devices, specifically includes work on a recent development at Tyndall, the junctionless transistor.

Intel has been close to silicon and nanotechnology research in Ireland for several years, as it has a wafer fab in Leixlip near Dublin. However, this agreement establishes a direct collaboration between Tyndall and Intel's central R&D technology research group in the United States. Intel has only one other such agreement in Europe, with the IMEC research institute in Leuven, Belgium. The agreement will provide Intel with a commercial exploitation license to technology created through the collaboration with Tyndall.

Tyndall scientists recently published a research paper on the junctionless transistor. Professor Jean-Pierre Colinge of Tyndall co-author of the paper Nanowire transistors without junctions, published by Nature Nanotechnology in February 2010 and said that junctionless transistors could be implemented commercially at around the 20-nm manufacturing node.

 Under the research agreement Tyndall and Intel researchers are set to investigate next generation materials, devices and photonics technologies. Another idea that could gain traction with Intel is that photonics could be used for on-ship high-speed interconnect.

Mike Mayberry, director of components research and vice president of the technology and manufacturing group at Intel said: "Intel and Tyndall have been working closely together for some time on a range of different technologies. This new agreement forms a direct relationship with Intel s internal research group in Portland. Through their publications and technology, Tyndall researchers have demonstrated their ability to innovate and invent technologies that can advance the frontiers of semiconductor technology. We at Intel are excited to enter into this advanced research agreement with Tyndall and look forward to a productive collaboration with the team here."

Tyndall CEO, Professor Whatmore said, "This collaborative research program with Intel provides direct industry and market guidance to our research programs, helping to ensure that what we deliver is manufacturable, relevant and of benefit to society. We are delighted that this program includes the junctionless transistor device invented at Tyndall by Professor Jean-Pierre Colinge, as well as photonic and advanced interconnect technologies. The interactions with the engineers and scientists within Intel, the world's leading semiconductor company, will enable us to advance our technologies to the marketplace much more rapidly than we could possibly do on our own."

"This agreement with Intel is a direct result of the investments over the past 10 years by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), which has attracted leading scientists and built word-class research facilities in Ireland. Now, more than ever, it is essential that the government maintains its investment in R&D if Institutes such as Tyndall are to continue to be key attractors for foreign direct investment said Professor Whatmore. 

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