SEMATECH

SEMATECH (from "semiconductor manufacturing technology") is more than semantics. The not-for-profit research consortium pursues advances in chip manufacturing including design, lithography, and interconnect processes. It also provides custom wafer processing services and publishes technical reports for its members. The group is funded by member dues. Employees from member companies -- Advanced Micro Devices, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Infineon, Intel, National Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments, among others -- carry out research at SEMATECH facilities. Its consortia members represent about half of the worldwide chip market.