Call for White Papers in Memory Technologies

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

Overview

Device Sciences of Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) Global Research Collaboration (GRC) is soliciting White Papers in the area of Memory Technologies. The principal goal of this industry-driven research is to generate ideas and solutions in advanced memory technologies. We encourage studies in new materials with memory effects, combining materials, device, and system research. Both embedded and stand-alone memories are within the scope.

Within the program structure of SRC GRC, this thrust focuses on technology-related research. Other memory-related work but focusing on circuit design or compact modeling is dealt with in its respective thrust and excluded from this call. (For future calls, please go to funding opportunities.)

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 parties are requested to submit brief 2-page White Papers. A successfully selected White Paper will result in an invitation to submit a full proposal which if chosen will lead to a 3-year research contract. The number and size of the contracts awarded will be determined by the amount of available funds, totaling around $300K per year, and by the number and size of high-quality proposals. The anticipated funding level per task is expected to be in the range of $50K to $100K per year, which includes the over-head expenses charged by the institution. Proposals offering funding leverage are strongly encouraged. (Leverage is other funding resources related and beneficial to the proposed work.)

Research Needs and Priorities

Specific and prioritized research needs are summarized in a report recently prepared by our Modeling and Simulation Technologies Technical Advisory Board. This document summarizes all relevant research into 14 topics. These topics are: gate stack and hetero-epitaxial interfaces, doping, synthesis of novel materials, transport, novel modeling/simulation techniques, heat generation and distribution, contacts, reliability, and variability. Also indicated is the consensus of relative priorities from our sponsor companies. We encourage submissions in the areas of higher priorities which will be weighted more favorably, although all submissions will be considered for special quality and insight. Interested researchers are encouraged to read the research needs document for more details.

White Paper Guidelines

White Papers are limited to 2 pages total, using a minimum of 10-point font size, and must be submitted via the SRC web-site. 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
• University
• Principal investigator’s contact information (telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail address).

Please address the following topics in your white paper:

• Background: Emphasize area and problem to be addressed; match most relevant topic addressed (e.g., 1b, 2a) in the table of Research Needs; 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 do you plan to accomplish in a 3-year program; what is the anticipated output of a successful effort?
• Funding Request and participants: Plan for 3-year budget (3-year total or/and per year) 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 which new results will be based on.

Awardees will be expected to:

• Disclose blocking background intellectual property (any issues regarding blocking IP must be resolved before award of contract)
• Participate in annual project review.
• Interact with industry liaisons when applicable.
• Submit reports for pre-defined deliverables.
• Submit publications resulting from sponsored research.
• File patents when applicable.

Timetable and Deadlines

Please direct all technical questions to Kwok Ng, Director of Device Sciences (kwok.ng@src.org). 
All other questions and responses should be directed to Jacqueline Hall, (jacqueline.hall@src.org, 919-941-9415).