Analysis of US semiconductor collaboration

Consortia in the United States and the US National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Centers, which have often emphasized long-range research with considerably less focus on current problems than have consortia in Japan, are reviewed. It is suggested that, in most instances, these US institutions have searched for revolutionary technology advancements and have had difficulty transferring their work to their members. While this type of work supports the development of new technology, it does little to solve current competitiveness problems. Only Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (SEMATECH) has assisted its members with continuous improvements, compressing product cycles, establishing relationships with suppliers, and strengthening core competencies while emphasizing work leading to process and produce improvements. SEMATECH's success shows that government can use SEMATECH as a model for the creation of programs where US industry lags behind foreign competitors.< >