NY CREATES and CEA-Leti announced their strategic partnership that will initially focus on the research and co-development of magnetic memory devices, which are used to store computer data. These devices would be produced at the 300mm wafer scale, the industry-standard platform upon which computer chips are produced. The announcement was made during the annual Leti Innovation Days in Grenoble.
Officials from the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES), based in Albany, N.Y., USA, and CEA-Leti, based in Grenoble, France, established this joint development agreement to build upon each other's strengths in the areas related to memory device R&D. CEA-Leti will contribute its expertise in magnetics, spintronics, and the testing of related devices, and NY CREATES will provide the facilities, process integration expertise, and materials process development to run the 300mm silicon hardware.
“By expanding our partnership with CEA-Leti and applying their recognized expertise in device physics and architectures, NY CREATES looks forward to jointly developing innovative technologies for computing. While we are known for our world-class Albany NanoTech Complex with experts in R&D focus areas ranging from advanced logic technologies to heterogeneous integration and more, this initiative’s focus on novel memory is an area in which we can break barriers together,” said NY CREATES President Dave Anderson.
“A first objective of this collaboration will be to develop novel magnetic memory architectures and integration. This international partnership will help to address present-day memory needs as computing power continues to progress, and we anticipate a fruitful collaboration."
“This collaboration will allow CEA-Leti to expand its capability to validate innovative concepts in synergy with the various facilities we have in Grenoble," (…). “We strongly believe that our collaboration will be a key enabler for both NY CREATES and CEA-Leti to be much more efficient in the lab-to-fab transition and to better impact our respective local ecosystems with more mature innovations." said CEA-Leti CEO Sébastien Dauvé.
More specifically, the first joint research effort seeks to demonstrate two novel forms of memory devices: Spin Orbit Torque (SOT) Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), and Spin Transfer Torque (STT) MRAM. While both forms of MRAM manipulate different materials' magnetization to store data, STT MRAM offers non-volatile memory with almost no power leakage; SOT MRAM is considered faster and more efficient.
Leaders of both R&D organizations expect the two-year collaboration to leverage NY CREATES' 300mm wafer R&D ecosystem centered at its Albany NanoTech Complex, the most advanced non-profit semiconductor R&D facility in North America. CEA-Leti will provide its world-class engineering services and know-how to produce working memory elements on 300mm wafers.
About NY CREATES | https://ny-creates.org/
NY CREATES serves as a lab-to-fab bridge for advanced electronics, fostering public-private and industry-academic partnerships for technology development and innovation. NY CREATES attracts and leads industry-connected innovation and commercialization projects that secure significant investment, advance R&D in emerging technologies, and generate the jobs of tomorrow. NY CREATES runs some of the most advanced facilities in the world, boasts more than 2,700 industry experts and faculty, and manages public and private investments of more than $20 billion—placing it at the global epicenter of high-tech innovation and commercialization.
About CEA-Leti | https://www.leti-cea.com/cea-tech/leti/english
CEA-Leti, a technology research institute at CEA, is a global leader in miniaturization technologies enabling smart, energy-efficient and secure solutions for industry. Founded in 1967, CEA-Leti pioneers micro-& nanotechnologies, tailoring differentiating applicative solutions for global companies, SMEs and startups. CEA-Leti tackles critical challenges in healthcare, energy and digital migration. From sensors to data processing and computing solutions, CEA-Leti’s multidisciplinary teams deliver solid expertise, leveraging world-class pre-industrialization facilities. With a staff of more than 2,000 talents, a portfolio of 3,200 patents, 11,000 sq. meters of cleanroom space and a clear IP policy, the institute is based in Grenoble, France, and has offices in Silicon Valley, Brussels and Tokyo. CEA-Leti has launched 76 startups and is a member of the Carnot Institutes network.