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BLinder
When doing a due diligence on an outsource of wafers one looks at the supply ...
joshxdr
It will be very interesting to see how this turns out. I remember a TI fab was ...
Singapore training Abu Dhabi fab workers
Peter Clarke
5/30/2011 8:50 AM EDT
LONDON – Teaching institute Singapore Polytechnic has signed an agreement to train wafer fab workers for Abu Dhabi. Some 50 men and women from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will form the pioneering class following an agreement signed between the Abu Dhabi owned Advanced Technology Investment Co. (ATIC); foundry Globalfoundries Inc., which is majority-owned by ATIC; and Singapore Polytechnic.
ATIC and Globalfoundries have plans to spend up to $7 billion to build a wafer fab in Abu Dhabi and is reported to be preparing to break ground on the fab in 2012.
The Semiconductor Retooling training program, managed jointly by Globalfoundries, ATIC and Singapore Polytechnic, has been developed to tap into the Abu Dhabi unemployment market, alongside those who may be seeking new employment opportunities. It provides the opportunity to retrain and learn specialist semiconductor and engineering skills required for roles as wafer fabrication technologists at Globalfoundries' Abu Dhabi fab.
The program lasts two and a half years and has three main phases: Participants will study for six months in Abu Dhabi before traveling to Singapore to study at Singapore Polytechnic for one year. During the year in Singapore the students will focus on microelectronics and mechatronics. The third and final phase of the program provides one year of on-the-job training at one of Globalfoundries' wafer fabs in Singapore.
"This agreement represents our commitment at ATIC to developing local talent by providing them with world class learning opportunities and access to the industry’s best training facilities," said Ibrahim Ajami, CEO of ATIC, in a statement.
In the same statement Tan Hang Cheong, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic, said: "As the first polytechnic in Singapore, SP is privileged to have this opportunity to share our experience and expertise in technical education with others. We hope this program will strengthen our ties and presence in the Middle East."
ATIC did not state exactly when the program started or would start, whether or when there would be a further intake of participants, or how many people were expected to be trained under the program.
Ibrahim Ajami, CEO of ATIC (left) and Tan Hang Cheong, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic, sign wafer fab training agreement.
Related links and articles:
www.atic.ae
News articles:
Report: Abu Dhabi fab to break ground in 2012
SEMI Europe looks to Abu Dhabi
ATIC cash draws chip research to Abu Dhabi
Report: ATIC plans $7B chip fab in Abu Dhabi
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Silicon_Smith
5/30/2011 11:26 AM EDT
Nice to see universities and semicon Companies coming together across borders and that too long a distance away.
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goafrit
5/30/2011 3:32 PM EDT
The best news that should be replicated in Africa. Congrats to this school. Africa needs this, please.
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eewiz
5/31/2011 2:00 AM EDT
"Globalfoundries have plans to spend up to $7 billion to build a wafer fab in Abu Dhabi and is reported to be preparing to break ground on the fab in 2012."
2012! is too ambitious. I am skeptical whether they have skilled workforce to do this. Training 50 people is good, but isnt even remotely enough to run a fab.
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joshxdr
5/31/2011 12:20 PM EDT
It will be very interesting to see how this turns out. I remember a TI fab was to be built in Thailand, there was a lot of training of new workers. When the fab construction experts finally got to the site, the water and electicity supply were not sufficient to actually run a fab, and the whole project was cancelled, and all the new trainees were let go (I think most went to work for Seagate). Hopefully the Abu Dhabi people are on top of these things.
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BLinder
5/31/2011 3:09 PM EDT
When doing a due diligence on an outsource of wafers one looks at the supply chain in terms of location to post fabrication (this is mainly Asia), political stability, geographical integrity (i.e. earthquakes), government support, technical resources,etc. Investing billions of dollars does not automatically put you in the game to win. Also, why would Singapore participate in creating a competitor of resources outside their own country. Sure the Singapore investors were pleased to get Chartered off their hands, but why move to train another nation to compete against.
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