Tough Problems and Bright Minds

Richard Hill
Former CEO, Novellus Systems, Inc.

Novellus Systems, a leading provider of advanced process equipment for the global semiconductor industry, was a key member of SRC from 1995 until its acquisition by Lam Research Corporation in 2012. Richard Hill served as both CEO and chairman of Novellus Systems during this time.

According to Hill, a number of key employees at Novellus came out of SRC programs—at least four or five every year. To Richard Hill, SRC's unique research model has many advantages. Top among these is that SRC allows companies to interact with some of the brightest minds on some of the toughest problems in industry. 

And SRC's research management process develops specific goals to guide, focus and rank research efforts, and provides a basis for measuring progress and obtaining the needed results. A shortened total cycle-time from invention to commercialization is another key to SRC's successful pre-competitive research. But the ultimate benefit of SRC membership is the timely and efficient transfer of relevant, world-class research results to its members.

Semiconductor Research Corporation creates and supports collaborative university research programs focused on pre-competitive technologies. The programs are cooperatively sponsored by universities, industry rivals and government agencies, resulting in increased competitiveness among all member organizations.