IBM and Samsung to cooperate on 32 nanometer technology

Seoul Korea - Some of the world's largest semiconductor and memory companies have agreed to cooperate on future technologies, including 32-nanometer manufacturing. The agreements will last through 2010 and groups up Samsung Electronics, IBM, Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor, Infineon Technologies and Freescale Semiconductor.

32 nanometer manufacturing is the next logical step from 45 nanometer processes that are just coming online. "Major new challenges are expected at the 32nm node, both in materials as well as device structures," said Oh-Hyun Kwon, president of Samsung's System LSI Division.

The companies have reached similar cross-technology agreements for 45, 65 and 90 nm manufacturing technologies.