THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR SEMICONDUCTORS AND SEMATECH FUTURE-DIRECTIONS

SEMATECH has been cited as an innovative leader and model for industry cooperation from its beginnings. From 1987 to the present, we have de monstrated that an industry and government partnership can be successf ul. The semiconductor industry has worked to develop a National Techno logy Roadmap for Semiconductors which focuses and enhances cooperation at the industry infrastructure level necessary for our success. SEMAT ECH is involved in the roadmap process and has aligned its organizatio n to this roadmap. We are now beginning a new model for industry coope ration as our members take full responsibility for our operational fun ding in 1997. As we develop our future strategic directions in respons e to the roadmap requirements, several key issues become dominant. In end use markets, consumers have voted for portability in products. Por tability puts accelerated demands upon design, test, and packaging to accommodate low power and changes in heat dissipation. Product capabil ity will continue to demand rapid increases in integration for the for eseeable future. These demands will drive design and manufacturing cos t issues, continuing the industry's track record of delivering more co mplex functions with decreased cost per function. Especially important are issues related to capital productivity, equipment productivity an d utilization, and wafer size change. In other venues SEMATECH has pro posed international cooperation in equipment standardization, environm ental issues and wafer size change. To accomplish these goals, we need to continue to improve communication with all of our partners necessa ry to our industry's continued success. Critical to success for the se miconductor industry is the need for increased precompetitive cooperat ion among our suppliers.