Call for Research in Logic and Memory Devices

• 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 Logic and Memory Devices. The principal goal of this discovery-driven program is to advance fundamental knowledge and innovations in these devices.

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 a brief two-page white paper. The white paper should clearly identify what can be done in the proposed period of two 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 the number of high-quality proposals. The anticipated funding level per task is expected to be under $100K per year, which includes the overhead expenses charged by the institution. The funding level requested will be a factor in the selection process. Proposals offering funding leverage are strongly encouraged and should be indicated. (Leverage is other funding resources related and beneficial to the proposed work, further explained below.) There is no limit on the number of submissions from each researcher.

Research Needs

Our research needs are summarized in a report recently prepared by our Technical Advisory Board for this program. This research needs document summarizes and explains all relevant research topics in this call. The titles of these topics are repeated here as:

1. Logic devices:
   1. MOSFETs with high-mobility channel materials
   2. Transistors based on tunneling
   3. Transistors based on non-tunneling transports and phenomena
   4. Transistors based on spin and magnetism
   5. Functional devices
2. New concepts for contacts, junctions, and gate structures
3. Memories
   1. NVM: MRAM
   2. NVM: RRAM
   3. NVM: PCRAM
   4. NVM: FeRAM
   5. NMV: Other novel concepts
   6. Analog memories
   7. Revolutionary SRAM and DRAM concepts
   8. Metrology for memory devices
4. Selection devices for memory arrays
5. Embedded devices
6. Simulations, modeling, and fundamental understanding of devices, materials, and physical phenomena
7. Other topics

We encourage submissions in these areas of high priorities which will be weighted more favorably, although all submissions will be considered for special quality and insight.

White Paper Guidelines

White Papers are limited to two pages total, containing all materials including references, using a minimum of 10-point font size, and must be submitted via the SRC web-site by January 10, 2018 no later than 3AM EST.  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:

• Objective and Results: Specify the anticipated outputs of a successful effort. Emphasize area and problem to be addressed. Indicate the item number (and sub-category) in our Research Needs document that matches the most your research topic (e.g. 1b).
• Background: Describe background and why research should be 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. Describe uniqueness; how your proposal differs from or relates to previous research that has been done by your team or by any other researchers. State the role of this research in advancing knowledge and state-of-the-art.
• Funding Request and participants: The 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 and enabling the proposed research. Examples include: students supported by other sources, equipment supported by other fundings, university subsidy for lab space or fab usage, matching funding from university, state or federal government sources, etc.
• Background IP: Identify any blocking pre-existing intellectual property on which new results will be based. If our members want to practice your research findings, is there any IP that is blocking it and requiring license?

Contract Awardees will be expected to:

• Participate in annual project review.
• Interact with industry liaisons.
• Submit reports for pre-defined deliverables in proposal.
• Deposit drafts of publications before public domain.
• 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.