AIXTRON and NCKU launch R&D Program.

AACHEN, Germany & TAINAN, Taiwan -- AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX; ISIN: DE0005066203; NASDAQ: AIXG), a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), one of the most renowned Universities in Taiwan, today announced the launch of a new R&D collaboration program for the research of nitride based photodetectors.

This collaboration will focus on the development of Al-Ga-Nitride structures with the goal to improve the quantum efficiency of novel UV photo detectors with a wavelength below 300nm. The nitride based opto-electronic device structures for this development program will be grown by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Deposition (MOCVD). These MOCVD growth experiments will be performed by NCKU on a horizontal MOCVD reactor, type AIX 200RF.

Prof. Dr. Y.-K. Su of NCKU comments: "We have decided to intensify our cooperation with AIXTRON, due to impressive research results from AIXTRON's MOCVD reactor technology in the past. We are very pleased with AIXTRON as a reliable industry cooperation partner for our R&D projects, and with the support that we get through their service organization."

Prof. Dr. M. Heuken, Vice President Corporate Research and Development of AIXTRON, responsible for the coordination of AIXTRON's global collaborations with Universities and research laboratories, adds: "We are very pleased to have this fruitful cooperation between NCKU and AIXTRON. This dialogue secures our position as renowned CVD system supplier - in order to keep pace with the latest developments in research and development, and to identify requirements of production customers of tomorrow."

About AIXTRON

AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX, ISIN DE0005066203; NASDAQ: AIXG, ISIN: US0096061041) is a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry. The Company's technology solutions are used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to build advanced components for electronic and opto-electronic applications based on compound, silicon, or organic semiconductor materials. Such components are used in fiber optic communication systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical and electronic storage devices, computing, signaling and lighting, as well as a range of other leading-edge technologies. AIXTRON AG's securities are listed on the Prime Standard market segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and, as American Depositary Shares (ADS), on NASDAQ, and are included in the TecDAX index, the NASDAQ Composite Index, the MSCI World Small Cap Index and the Nature Stock Index (NAI). Founded in 1983, the Company is headquartered in Aachen, Germany. Additional information is available on AIXTRON's website at www.aixtron.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of AIXTRON within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "contemplate," "intend," "plans," "believe," "continue" and "estimate," and variations of these words and similar expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. In any forward- looking statement in which AIXTRON expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished.

Actual operating results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks, including risks arising from: actual customer orders received by AIXTRON; the extent to which chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, technology is demanded by the market place; the timing of final acceptance of products by customers; the financial climate and accessibility of financing; general conditions in the thin film equipment market and in the macro-economy; cancellations, rescheduling or delays in product shipments; manufacturing capacity constraints; lengthy sales and qualification cycles; difficulties in the production process; changes in semiconductor industry growth; increased competition; exchange rate fluctuations; availability of government funding; variability and availability of interest rates; delays in developing and commercializing new products; general economic conditions being less favorable than expected; and other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and AIXTRON does not assume any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Any reference to the Internet website of AIXTRON is not an incorporation by reference of such information in this news release, and you should not interpret such a reference as an incorporation by reference of such information.

Additional Information

For additional information about factors that could affect our future financial and operating results, see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Regis.No. 333-122624) filed with the Commission on February 8, 2005 and available at the Commission's website at www.sec.gov

WKN: 506620; ISIN: DE0005066203; Index: TecDAX
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