Singulus Technologies a Germany-based thin-film manufacturer and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University of Albany have partnered to launch a $12 million research and advanced tooling project at CNSE’s Albany NanoTech Complex. Singulus scientists will work in the Complex with CNSE students and staffers. The project is part of Governor Cuomo’s strategic plan to build what he calls an innovation economy.
The new partnership will bring together researchers, engineers, and scientists to establish a fully installed, multi-equipment MRAM toolset capable of module and processing for an MRAM developmentp rogram. MRAM stands for magnetoresistive read access memory and is one of the forerunners of nanotechnology memories. MRAM is designed to be the eventual successor of flash, DRAM and SRAM memories, the technology common to USB drives, and a range of digital storage services like iPods, and computer memory.
There are several other competing “next generation” memories being developed within nanotechnology right now, including Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), Phase change RAM (PRAM), holographic and nanocrystalline memories. Nano-technologists all over the world have been working for some years to create the “perfect” memory. MRAM has been a leader in this area for some time as it allows quick access and unlimited writing properties which allow users to save and overwrite files again and again. Singulus has been working to develop this part of its business portfolio in addition to other work in Solar and Optical disks, with the goal of becoming the leader in silicon and thin-film solar technology as a machine supplier and development partner.
“We are very optimistic about the potential of know-how transfer for MRAM storage media, and are excited to be developing processes for TMR Materials with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, which is recognized around the world as the global leader in innovation and commercialization of advanced technology,” said Wolfram Maass, Managing Director of the Singulus Nano business unit.
The University of Albany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to education, research, development and deployment in nanoscience, nanobioscience and nanoeconomics. Nano based technologies are a multi-billion dollar global market that effect everything from the computers we use to clothing to health care. CNSE boasts $14 billion in high-tech investments in these areas and is one of the world’s most advanced university-driven research enterprises employing 2,600 researchers, scientists and students to do this work. Other companies such as IBM, Intel, GlobalFoundries, SEMATECH, and Samsung among others have staffers working and teaching at the Nano Complex.
“New York’s high-tech economy continues to attract leading companies from around the world because they recognize the strength and advantage of doing business in our state,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said of the partnership.
