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Nijmegen, October 20, 2025 – Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) will become part of TNO. This strategic move marks a significant step toward ensuring the long-term continuity and stability of CITC’s research and operations. The integration emphasizes TNO’s ambition to take a leading position in the innovation of chip packaging technologies and strengthen the regional semiconductor ecosystem in Nijmegen.

“In the coming years, TNO aims to play a key role in the development of advanced chip packaging in the Netherlands,” says Arnaud de Jong, director of High Tech Industry at TNO. “By integrating CITC into TNO, we can intensify and expand our research efforts. We also contribute to the further development of Lifeport in Nijmegen as a strong, future-proof semiconductor ecosystem.” With the investment in CITC, TNO connects chip technology activities between Nijmegen and other semiconductor hubs such as Eindhoven.

Advanced chip packaging
CITC was founded in 2019 by TNO and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), among others, as an independent innovation center for advanced chip packaging technology. Within an ecosystem of companies, research institutions and educational organizations, CITC has developed into a broad R&D hub that collaborates on technological breakthroughs in advanced chip packaging.

“CITC’s integration into TNO marks a noteworthy moment for CITC. This step underscores our shared vision for the future of chip integration and packaging technology,” says Jeroen van den Brand, general manager of CITC in Nijmegen. “This provides room for growth, accelerates innovation, and strengthens CITC’s international position as a center of expertise for chip packaging.”

Strategic choice for Nijmegen
CITC’s integration into TNO will formally take effect on January 1, 2026. CITC will become part of TNO’s High Tech Industry business unit and will remain located at the Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen. Toni Versluijs, chairman of the CITC Supervisory Board: “CITC continues on its current course. For the Supervisory Board, it is essential that, with TNO’s ambition and investment, we secure continuation of the CITC activities, while building on the existing talent and technology and give CITC room to grow further.”

Lucas van Vliet, member of the CITC Supervisory Board on behalf of TU Delft: “The collaboration between TU Delft and TNO within CITC will change form as of January 1 but remains as strong as ever. TU Delft believes in the importance and growth potential of chip packaging and sees incorporating CITC into a strong organization like TNO as an opportunity to further accelerate innovation in chip technology.”

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About CITC
CITC is a non-profit, joint innovation center specializing in heterogeneous integration and advanced chip packaging technology. With the aim of bridging the gap between academia and industry, CITC has created an effective ecosystem where companies, research and educational institutions collaborate. CITC was founded in 2019 with strategic partners TNO and Delft University of Technology and is supported by the province of Gelderland and Nijmegen municipality. Located on Noviotech Campus Nijmegen, CITC is perfectly situated in the heart of the Dutch semiconductor industry.
www.citc.org

About TNO
TNO is the largest independent research and technology organization in the Netherlands and one of the largest in the EU. We innovate, investigate, and orchestrate, collaborating closely with governments, universities and the private sector. We inform government on policies and empower evidence-based decision-making through rigorous investigations, cutting-edge scientific insights, and reliable measurements. By building national and international consortia and ecosystems, we drive technological and methodological breakthroughs that help to realise a secure, sustainable, healthy, and digital society, and strengthen the earning power of the Dutch economy.
www.tno.nl/en/

Contact
Christian Ketelaars, Communications Manager
E [email protected]
M +31 (0)6 48 15 42 92

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Media contact: M. Guilbert, [email protected]

RECIF Technologies Adopts Agileo Automation’s Combined Speech Scenario and E84 PIO Box Solution to Test E84 and SECS/GEM SEMI Standard Compliance of Wafer Handling and Tracking Equipment

Global French manufacturer of automated handling equipment, wafer sorters, and equipment front-end modules (EFEMs) saves significant fab equipment integration time and enhances customer satisfaction

PHOENIX, October 7, 2025 – Agileo Automation, a leading provider of control and connectivity solutions for global semiconductor manufacturing equipment, today announced at Booth #877 at SEMICON West 2025 that RECIF Technologies has adopted its combined Speech Scenario and E84 PIO Box solution to test its wafer handling and tracking equipment for E84 and SECS/GEM compliance. The global company headquartered in Toulouse Blagnac, France, which specializes in the design, manufacturing, and installation of automated equipment for semiconductor wafer handling, needed a fast and effective solution to validate the compliance of its products with SEMI’s E84 and SECS/GEM standards before they are shipped and implemented at customers’ semiconductor manufacturing sites all over the world.

Speech Scenario is a software that emulates the fab host to validate SECS/GEM tool scenarios before shipping brand-new production equipment to fabs. The E84 PIO Box is a compact and lightweight device that serves as an interface between Speech Scenario and E84 passive equipment. Used together, these products allow RECIF Technologies to generate complete test reports that can be communicated to its customers, ensure fast detection of non-compliance and errors to avoid downtime, as well as quick and reliable SEMI E84 and SECS/GEM compliance testing, especially in the management of complex cases. The company has now better control over host-sorter interactions, with customizable scenarios related to automatic carrier delivery defined in the E84 standards. With Speech Scenario, RECIF teams can more effectively replicate customer use cases when resolving anomalies.

“We were using less flexible software where automation messages were not easily modifiable and old emulation technology for validation of only the PIO part of the E84 standard, which meant that more complex cases and host-sorter interactions had to be tested and adapted in the field during machine integration at customer sites,” explains Thomas Brillouet, research and development director for RECIF Technologies SAS. “We selected Agileo’s all-in-one Speech Scenario and E84 PIO Box solution because we believe that it is the most efficient and competitive product currently on the market. The flexibility and time savings we have garnered since using Agileo’s solution has translated into enhanced overall customer satisfaction for our company.”

“Over the past 40 years, RECIF Technologies has built a solid reputation as an innovative industry leader in advanced semiconductor equipment manufacturing and as an early adopter of SEMI standards,” adds Marc Engel, CEO of Agileo Automation. “Agileo Automation, whose origins are closely tied to RECIF Technologies, benefits from a strong cultural and technical proximity with the company. We are proud to contribute to RECIF Technologies’ success, both as a technology partner and by supporting them in demonstrating quality and reliability to their customers.”

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About Agileo Automation
Since its inception in 2010 in Poitiers, France, Agileo Automation has empowered global semiconductor equipment manufacturers to optimize their production machines with control, communication, data acquisition, and testing solutions, enabling their deployment in large-scale fabs worldwide. At the heart of Industry 4.0, Agileo’s A²ECF-SEMI framework provides a robust foundation for developing equipment controller software, leveraging the SEMI SECS/GEM and GEM300 standard suites. As a member of SEMI and the OPC Foundation, Agileo Automation is a key contributor to the development and integration of industry standards such as SEMI and OPC UA. For more information, please visit our web site or follow us on LinkedIn.

About RECIF Technologies
RECIF Technologies, headquartered in Toulouse-Blagnac, France, has been providing advanced robotic solutions for semiconductor wafer handling since 1985. The company designs and manufactures reliable sorters, EFEMs, and compact handling tools that help leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide improve productivity, ensure reliability, and reduce total cost of ownership. As a member of SEMI and the Aeneas association, RECIF Technologies actively contributes to the industry standards and collaborative projects shaping the future of the semiconductor industry. For more information, please visit our web site or follow us on LinkedIn.

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Intel and Flexciton announce partnership to provide semiconductor manufacturers with a comprehensive Factory Automation and Optimisation Software Solution.

LONDON – September 25th, 2025 – Flexciton, a leader in autonomous planning and scheduling for semiconductor manufacturing, today announced a partnership with Intel. This collaboration will provide semiconductor manufacturers with a comprehensive, end-to-end set of software solutions to increase the level of automation and accelerate their transition to autonomous factory operations.

The partnership combines the power of  Intel® Automated Factory Solutions (Intel® AFS) software suite, including Intel® Operations Recon, and Intel® Factory Pathfinder, with Flexciton’s autonomous technology suite of Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling. The two companies will offer a synergic, holistic approach that provides complete visibility and control over complex semiconductor production workflows, enabling smart, autonomous decision-making and significant gains in key performance indicators.

"I am incredibly excited about this partnership. Intel® AFS solutions have been developed and tested within the most advanced fabs, and we see a great synergy with our cutting-edge planning and scheduling technologies," said Jamie, CEO & Cofounder, Flexciton. "With Intel® Factory Pathfinder and  Intel® Operation Recon combined with our Flex Planner and Scheduler suite, we will be able to provide an end-to-end optimisation solution that empowers our customers to unlock new levels of automation and significantly increase factory efficiency."

The partnership is designed to meet the growing demand for greater operational efficiency in the semiconductor industry. By leveraging high-speed simulations, AI, and advanced optimisation, the combined approach will enhance factory automation and deliver tangible benefits, including complete visibility of shopfloor operations, optimised planning and scheduling, and a significant uplift in factory key metrics such as throughput and cycle times.

Paul Schneider, Intel Principal Engineer, Director, said: "By combining our deep factory automation expertise with Flexciton's innovative scheduling solutions, we are providing manufacturers with the critical tools they need to enhance their operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge." 

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About Flexciton: Flexciton partners with semiconductor manufacturers to power their transition towards autonomous factories. Our suite of intelligent planning and scheduling applications combines advanced optimisation techniques with the power of AI to orchestrate complex fab workflows and achieve critical revenue-to-shop-floor alignment. Flexciton’s Autonomous Technology transforms fab operations by eliminating manual and reactive decision-making processes. This dramatically improves factory throughput and cycle times, enhances labour efficiency, and optimises overall costs and resource utilisation. Trusted by industry leaders including Seagate Technology, Renesas, and Microchip, Flexciton drives the next phase of digitalisation and transformation to an autonomous factory. Headquartered in London, UK, Flexciton operates globally with dedicated teams located in Europe and the US.
www.flexciton.com 

About Intel Automated Factory Solutions: Intel® Automated Factory Solutions (Intel® AFS) is a comprehensive software suite that optimises industrial processes.  It utilises advanced technologies such as Digital Twins, predictive analytics, high-speed simulation, and AI to improve efficiency and reduce downtime in factory operations and other complex operational processes with many interdependencies.

Intel® Factory Pathfinder: A high-speed discrete event simulator and digital twin designed for factory prediction and optimisation. It can function independently or integrate with production systems to streamline product assignments and reduce order fulfilment times.

Intel® Operations Recon: Provides a graphical digital twin of factory production equipment and automated systems, boosting operational visibility and enabling real-time troubleshooting and material movement simulations.
www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/software/automated-factory-solutions.html

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