HELSINKI, Finland and ALMERE, the Netherlands - January 20, 2009 -
ASM International N.V. (NASDAQ: ASMI and Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) and
the University of Helsinki announced today that they have renewed
their long-term research agreement in the field of Atomic Layer
Deposition for another 5-years.
Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is an advanced technology
for depositing thin film materials one atom at a time, for use in
integrated circuits and other applications. ASM and the University
of Helsinki have been pioneers in ALD technology for two decades.
ASM Chief Technology Officer, Ivo Raaijmakers, commented:
"The cooperation of University basic ALD research and ASM equipment
development has proved very successful in bringing ALD process
technology to the semiconductor industry since this project began in
2004. It has also strengthened our portfolio of intellectual
property rights in this process technology platform. Recently, the
accord has generated some key innovations in such areas as noble
metals and phase change materials deposition, previously thought
impossible with ALD, which are currently under study for high volume
manufacturing".
"In the current global situation of fragmented research
funding, this agreement is exceptional both in terms of length and
volume", commented Professors Markku Leskelä and Mikko Ritala, the
heads of the ALD research group at the Laboratory of Inorganic
Chemistry at the University. "We and our students also greatly
appreciate the kind of collaboration with industry that takes us to
the area where basic and applied research becomes mixed. The
questions we deal with in our research are fundamental by their
nature, yet their solutions may find rapid use in future
semiconductor devices."
About the University of Helsinki
One of the oldest universities in Europe, the University of Helsinki,
founded in 1640, concentrates on high-level scientific research and
researcher education. Through its 60 graduate schools, the
University focuses on post-graduate education. It is one of the
world's leading academic research institutes in the field of Atomic
Layer Deposition.
About ASM International
ASM International N.V. and its subsidiaries design and manufacture
equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM
International and its subsidiaries provide production solutions for
wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as assembly and
packaging (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States,
Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on
NASDAQ (symbol ASMI) and the
Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information,
visit ASMI's web site at www.asm.com.
# # #
Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: All matters discussed in this statement, except
for any historical data, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to,
economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry
generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically,
currency fluctuations, the timing of significant orders, market
acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving
intellectual property, shareholder and other issues, commercial and
economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity,
armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks
indicated in the Company's filings from time to time with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to,
the Company's reports on Form 20-F and Form 6-K. The Company assumes
no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect future developments or circumstances.
Contacts:
ASMI - Ivo Raaijmakers: +31 88 100 8587; Erik Kamerbeek: + 31 88 100
8500
University of Helsinki - Markku Leskelä +358 9 191 50195
(markku.leskela@helsinki.fi); Mikko Ritala +358 9 191 50193
(mikko.ritala@helsinki.fi)
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