聯電與歐洲最大的獨立微電子 (microelectronics) 研究機構 "IMEC"，今日共同宣佈雙方簽訂晶圓專工協議。有了在 IMEC 與聯電多年的合作經驗為基礎下，此次協議將透過 IMEC 的 Europractice IC Service，間接提供聯電的晶圓專工服務及技術給歐洲的廠商，其中包括提供客戶驗證其先進設計及產品原型之機會的 Silicon Shuttle Multi Project Wafer (MPW) 平台。此協議所帶來的相關服務將對歐洲內出貨量較小的公司機構有相當大的好處：如學術研究機構，新成立的公司，及以特殊市場為目標之公司。

Europractice IC Service 是 IMEC 提供的服務之一：Europractice 提供 ASIC 服務給客戶，也經由更具經濟效益的方式幫助客戶加速其產品上市的腳步。藉由此晶圓專工協議，Europractice 的客戶將可享有聯電先進的製程技術，其中包括 0.13 微米 CMOS 邏輯、混合訊號及射頻 (Logic, Mixed-mode / RF) 等，客戶也可享有以低成本驗證其設計原型 (prototyping) 的機會。

聯電歐洲分公司 UMC Europe 的總經理胡孝權 (Felix Hu) 表示，Europractice 在過去幾年已累積了許多不同半導體領域相關之豐富經驗，也對聯電的先進製程及設計規則有深度的了解。以往 Europractice 與聯電的合作案件都非常成功，我們深信未來 Europractice 更會是歐洲客戶們的好幫手。Europractice 將可幫助剛起步及規模較小的公司降低初期設計及測試的風險，並同時提供進入穩定量產的相關專業建議。

Europractice IC Services 的 Director，Carl Das 先生表示，雙方兩年多前即開始合作，如今可算是開花結果，我們非常榮幸能正式成為聯電的合作夥伴。透過這次與聯電成功建立的合作關係，可看出聯電持續為客戶提供更好服務的決心。以往，規模較小的公司比較無法持續使用晶圓專工服務。此協議將可使規模較小、新成立、以及無晶圓廠公司 (fabless companies) 更容易享受到聯電先進的製程技術與服務。

這份為期三年的協議也奠定了未來雙方在其他先進製程技術方面，更進一步合作的基礎。

Europractice IC Service was set up in 1995 as part of a project by the European Commission to stimulate use by European industry and universities of advanced IC technologies. The Europractice service, run by a consortium headed by IMEC, offers industry and academia a fully supported, affordable route to IC design, prototyping, and small and medium volume production. Annually, about 500 designs are prototyped and 130 small volume projects are manufactured at leading IC manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.europractice.imec.be.

UMC IMEC is heading the consortium that runs the Europractice IC Service. IMEC was founded in 1984 and today is Europe's largest independent research center in the field of microelectronics, nanotechnology, enabling design methods and technologies for ICT systems. IMEC's activities concentrate on the design technology for integrated information and communication systems; silicon process technology; silicon technology and device integration; nanotechnology, microsystems, components and packaging; solar cells; and advanced training in microelectronics. IMEC is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has a staff of more than 1200 people including over 350 industrial residents and guest researchers. IMEC has a 0.13μm 200mm pilot line and is ISO9001 certified. Its revenue of more than ?120M is derived from agreements and contracts with the Flemish government and companies, the EC, MEDEA+, the European Space Agency, equipment and material suppliers, and semiconductor and system-oriented companies worldwide. News from IMEC is located at www.imec.be.