*AV*--What an interesting situation. I'll see if I can get some info from informed sources on this matter. When you mention consortium and given your location, I hope we aren't talking about SEMATECH. This would be consistent with previous types of blunders. I hope it isn't SEMATECH but if it is:
Giving all the "free stuff" on EUV to foreigners is inconsistent with the intended mission of SEMATECH at its inception. However, with Federal funding no longer a part of their huge budget, it seems consistent with some prevailing attitudes amongst its members that EIPs (Equipment Improvement Programs) should be offered to those best suited to perform the job in the shortest amount of time, with the largest probability of success, and with whom many of them already do business with.
It does not surprise me that the lead microprocessor guys favor both Nikon and ASMLF. Time is money to them and neither really gives a hoot about "Made in USA" since their products are used globally and won't affect them relative to trade imbalances. UTEK will surely suffer without access to this information. If I were them, I would pitch a fit also. Fundamentally the Dept of Energy is funded by US Tax Dollars. Both personal, corporate and federal excise taxes paid for these programs. I find it disgusting, unpatriotic, immoral, irreprehensible and downright stupid that information and research paid for by our taxes are not given to US companies first.
I also find it cruel and stupid that the government does not go one step further with the developments by funding the commercial implementation of the technology within the US borders. With all the money that was spent on the programs to develop these types of technologies by the government using our tax dollars, why not use just a little more funding to provide US commercialization of the concept such that it can positively impact the trade deficit. After all, it makes sense (Whoops, now there's the rub. Making sense and the government). I do not see Japan giving away government funded research to foreigners.
Okay off the soapbox. However, giving away resources and technology seems to always blow up in our faces. Scrap metal from the US helped build the WWII fleet of Japan, Deming's Principles were implemented in the Pacific Rim which helped us lose valuable ground in the TV, auto, IC, etal sectors. In an attempt to go global, most big US based IC companies have alliances with Pacific Rim entities. That is not bad, per se, but equal access to technology should also occur. I won't even go into the huge patent inequity that exists between the USA and foreign governments.
If it were me running the governement, I would make damn sure that neither UTEK, ISI or SVGI could effectively implement this technology or concepts prior to offering to external US entities. I also believe the government should not allow a biased consortium to determine placement of tax supported programs. When you do, you find these biases tend to put things in the hands of people that benefit the consortium and not benefit the common good.
Andrew
BTW-UTEK was/is involved in EUV technology through Sandia Labs, I think. Sandia is gov't supported. I also thought INTC was in the mix somewhere also. Needless to say, further investigation and commentary are necessary. |
