450 mm Wafer Transition

The transition of leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing to 450mm wafers is one of the complex and challenging issues in our industry. Advocates claim larger wafers are necessary to keep pace with Moore’s Law cost targets; opponents claim it will restructure the industry, negatively impact profitability, and drain precious R&D funding away from essential innovations in scaling, cycle time improvements and manufacturing flexibility.  Read more about our view: http://www.semi.org/en/IndustrySegments/WaferProcessing/ssLINK/CTR_041227

Achieving Grid Parity in PV

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology will achieve grid parity this decade with other energy  sources in many locations around the world, offering a clean, renewable and inexhaustible supply of electrical power.  To reach these goals, the global PV industry needs effective global collaboration on industry standards and technology roadmaps to accelerate cost reduction and innovation. For more information on how the SEMI PV Group is facilitating industry roadmaps with key stakeholders around the world, and facilitating effective standards that eliminate redundant costs, see the PV Group website. For more information, visit:www.pvgroup.org

Helping Make Solid State Lighting a Reality

Approximately 20% of the world’s electricity is used for lighting.  LED-produced solid state lighting can reduce this by as much as 50% by 2020, making an enormous contribution to energy efficiency and global fossil fuel reduction.  Energy efficient lighting powered by solar energy can also bring clean, renewable light to nearly a billion people in developing countries.  SEMI is helping advance solid state lighting by supporting the growth and coordination of LED manufacturing.  For more information on SEMI and LEDs, visit www.semi.org/LEDs

Secondary Equipment Market

The global secondary market of used and refurbished semiconductor equipment will grow to over $8 billion in 2011 and have a significant impact on manufacturers of semiconductor equipment, buyers of secondary equipment and the global network of service, support and refurbishing companies that occupy this growing segment of the industry. SEMI believes it important to support the secondary market to allow greater industry efficiency while protecting buyers and sellers. The SEMI Secondary Equipment and Applications special interest group (SEA) works to ensure global best practices and shared guidelines.  Click here for more information.