Chip Industry's Best and Brightest Meet At SRC's TECHCON 2000 in Phoenix.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000

Presentations by Student Researchers, Intel's Barrett, AMD's Siegle

and IBM's Davari Highlight Event

Hundreds of the nation's best and brightest graduate students, engineering professors and chip-industry R&D experts will meet this week at the Pointe Hilton at Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix.

The meeting, called TECHCON 2000, runs Sept. 21 through 23, and is sponsored by the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), the chip industry's long-term research consortium, based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

"The future of the chip industry will be right here in Phoenix," said Dr. Dinesh Mehta, SRC's vice president, business operations and strategic initiatives and general chair of TECHCON 2000. "We only gather for TECHCON every two years, so it's a very special occasion. At this conference, we showcase best in university research in semiconductor technology and the students conducting the research."

Highlights of TECHCON 2000 will include:

Thursday, Sept. 21

--Noon: Dr. Bijan Davari, IBM fellow and V.P., technology and emerging products, speaks on his vision for the future of semiconductor technology.

--5 p.m.: "Semiconductor Frontiers," a discussion led by graduate students involved with SRC's new cross-disciplinary research program, created to stimulate non-traditional thinking on the technology issues facing the semiconductor industry.

--6:30 p.m.: Dr. Willam Siegle, AMD Sr. V.P. and chief scientist, presents keynote address for SRC's Graduate Fellowship Program banquet.

Friday, Sept. 22

--9 a.m. press conference:

--Announcement of student winners of the SRC's Cu Design Challenge, in conjunction with Novellus, UMC and SpeedFam/IPEC. The contest was created to stimulate new integrated circuit ideas as the industry replaces the use of aluminum with copper wiring.

--Announcement of the SRC's prestigious Landmark Innovations Award for significant research impact on the chip industry - this year with a direct Arizona connection.

--6:30 p.m.: Craig Barrett, Intel president and CEO, discusses challenges and opportunities for the semiconductor industry, and the important role SRC plays in developing talent for the industry (during banquet).

There will also be outstanding sessions on technical topics throughout the three-day event, including such issues as computer-aided design tools and methodologies; test and testability; mixed signal/analog technology; integrated circuit and systems design; front-end processes and materials; back-end processes and materials; patterning materials, processes and systems; advanced environment, safety and health; advanced device structures; interconnect technology and systems; factory systems; nanotechnology and advanced concepts.

SRC, based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., with an office in San Jose, Calif., is the largest continuous industry-driven university research program in the U.S. The SRC plans and manages a program of basic and applied research carried out principally in North American universities on behalf of SRC participating companies. Since 1982, SRC has funded more than $428 million in long-term semiconductor research contracts. Currently, the SRC is sponsoring research programs, faculty positions or graduate students at 67 universities located in the U.S. and Canada. (Web site: www.src.org )

Editors Note: For additional TECHCON 2000 conference information, contact Dr. Dinesh Mehta (SRC: 919/941-9435 until 9/19; Phoenix: 602/866-7500 from 9/20-23). Media contact: Ben Kittner (N.C.: 919/420-7770 until 9/19, and Phoenix: 602/866-7500 from 9/20-23).