Call for Research in Nanomanufacturing Materials and Processes

• Overview
• Research Needs
• White Paper Guidelines
• Timetable and Deadlines

Overview

Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) Global Research Collaboration (GRC) is soliciting white papers in the research program of Nanomanufacturing Materials and Processes. The principal goals of this program are to advance fundamental knowledge and innovations in the nanomanufacturing of semiconductors.

This call, issued to universities worldwide, may be addressed by an individual investigator or a research team. Our selection process is divided into two stages. The interested party is requested to submit a brief two-page white paper. The white paper should clearly identify what can be done in the total length of project; either two years or three years. A successfully selected white paper will result in an invitation to submit a full proposal. These proposals will be further down-selected for research contracts. The number and size of the contracts awarded will be determined by the amount of available funds, and by the number of high-quality proposals. The anticipated funding level per task is expected to be in the range of $80K to $100K per year, which includes the overhead expenses charged by the institution. Proposals offering funding leverage are strongly encouraged and should be indicated. (Leverage is other funding resources related and beneficial to the proposed work.) Due to the expected large number of submissions, we request that each researcher is limited to one submission bearing the best potential.

Research Needs

Our research needs generally fall into the following five categories:

• Patterning
• Frond-End Processes
• Back-End Processes
• Common areas
• ESH (Environment, Safety, and Health)

More details for each category can be found in a document recently prepared by our Technical Advisory Board. The Research Needs Document summarizes and explains all relevant research topics in this call. We encourage submissions in these areas of high priorities which will be weighted more favorably, although submissions of all related topics will be considered for special quality and insight.

White Paper Guidelines

White Papers are limited to two pages total, including figures and references, using a minimum of 10-point font size, and must be submitted via the SRC web-site by July 18, 2017 no later than 3PM EDT/ 12PM PDT.  Submissions not in compliance with all guidelines will be excluded from consideration.

Please include the following identifying information in your White Paper:

• Project title
• Investigator(s) and university.  
• Principal investigator’s contacts (telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail address).
• Item # in Research Needs that matches most closely to your proposed research.

Please address the following topics in your White Paper:

• Background: Identify area and problem to be addressed. Describe why research is being done. Rationalize value in terms of semiconductor industry needs.
• Approach: Present your strategy for addressing the problem. Describe important findings from your research to date. State the role of this research in advancing knowledge and state-of-the-art.
• Objective and Results: What you plan to accomplish in a two-year or three-year plan? What are the anticipated outputs of a successful effort?
• Funding Request and participants: Plan for yearly budget should include overhead charges by your institution. Besides faculty, please also indicate the number of students supported and their degrees pursued.
• Funding Leverage: Leverage funding applicable to the proposed research.
• Background IP: Identify any blocking pre-existing intellectual property on which new results will be based.

Contract Awardees will be expected to:

• Participate in annual project review.
• Interact with industry liaisons.
• Submit reports for pre-defined deliverables in proposal.
• Submit publications resulting from sponsored research.
• File patents when applicable.

Timetable and Deadlines

Please direct all technical questions to Kwok Ng, thrust Director, (919) 941-9417. 
All other questions and responses should be directed to Mary Altman, (919) 941-9448.