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GLOBALFOUNDRIES Drives Advanced Nanotechnology Research at Abu Dhabi Universities

September 21, 2018

Semiconductor foundry granting access to leading-edge technology platform for researchers and students from Masdar Institute

Abu Dhabi, UAE: GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced an innovative partnership with Masdar Institute to help spur the continued development of Abu Dhabi as a center for semiconductor R&D and manufacturing excellence. As the world’s second largest foundry, GLOBALFOUNDRIES provides a unique combination of advanced technology and manufacturing to more than 150 customers and employing more than 12,000 people worldwide.

This broad international talent base provides the company with substantial competitive advantages, combining leading-edge technology knowledge, foundry experience and a strong graduate base from universities and research institutes. GLOBALFOUNDRIES Abu Dhabi is building on and extending the excellent track record of university relations by providing a unique approach to offering access to researchers and students of Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi.
 
In September 2012, GLOBALFOUNDRIES granted a number of students and professors from Masdar privileged access to the company’s technology development platform from the GLOBALFOUNDRIES Abu Dhabi office, located in the HQ building, Al Raha. The laboratory-like environment includes powerful production servers, engineering work stations and a high-speed data network enabling remote access to one of the world’s most advanced nanotechnology engineering systems based at GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ leading-edge Fab 1 in Dresden, Germany. The environment will provide university researchers and students with wide access to process design kits (PDKs) for advanced semiconductor technology nodes, including the latest High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) transistor technology.

"We are very proud to be a part of Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030," said Geoffrey Akiki, general manager of GLOBALFOUNDRIES Abu Dhabi. "By introducing our world-class technology to the best talent of Abu Dhabi and investing in supporting these research efforts, we are contributing to develop a highly skilled, highly productive workforce. The worldwide engineering base of GLOBALFOUNDRIES design engineers is adding valuable know-how to this unique proposition."

A group of seven students and faculty will be taking part in the first phase of this program at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. This unprecedented experience in the region will enable the Masdar team to conduct detailed research work in modeling and designing the chips of the future. GLOBALFOUNDRIES has appointed a team of highly skilled engineers based in Abu Dhabi and around the world to lead and support this exciting initiative.

"The Dresden Design Enablement team is happy to support all activities enabling young talent to become familiar with leading-edge technology," said Gerd Teepe, Director Design Enablement, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Fab 1. "By providing support for our entire 28nm tool suite we are completing a highly innovative approach for technology education with focus on the latest generation of design enablement."

 "Masdar Institute will be among the first academic institutions worldwide to receive access to 65nm technology," said Dr. Steven Griffiths, Executive Director, Institute Initiatives, and Professor of Practice, Masdar Institute. "The three different knowledge exchange initiatives will help our students gain exciting first-hand experience with leading-edge technologies. We acknowledge the contribution by GLOBALFOUNDRIES towards human capital development in Abu Dhabi and the UAE and believe the programs will further enhance the capabilities of our students. "

 Graduate students preparing for their research project will also have the opportunity to apply for a three to six month internship at one of GLOBALFOUNDRIES sites worldwide. The first three young students from Masdar Institute will start their internship program in October in Dresden, Germany designing systems-on-a-chip (SOC) and validation in silicon hardware.

ABOUTGLOBALFOUNDRIES
GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the world’s first full-service semiconductor foundry with a truly global footprint. Launched in March 2009, the company has quickly achieved scale as the second largest foundry in the world, providing a unique combination of advanced technology and manufacturing to more than 160 customers. With operations in Singapore, Germany and the United States, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the only foundry that offers the flexibility and security of manufacturing centers spanning three continents. The company’s three 300mm fabs and five 200mm fabs provide the full range of process technologies from mainstream to the leading edge. This global manufacturing footprint is supported by major facilities for research, development and design enablement located near hubs of semiconductor activity in the United States, Europe and Asia. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC). For more information, visit http://www.globalfoundries.com.