Semiconductor technology transfer from universities to industry

Technology transfer is a critical issue for any corporate or academic research institution. Benefits to the customer are only derived when the research "product" is disseminated out of the research lab and into the commercial environment. At the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), such technology transfer is essential to the success of its cooperative research program. However, universities and semiconductor manufacturing companies have their own distinct cultures, interests and reward systems. This paper identifies some of the major barriers that currently exist in SRC's realm of technology transfer, both technically and managerially. It will also address current and alternative methods for overcoming such barriers and management issues. Additionally, some examples of successes and failures in technology transfer as documented by the SRC are presented. The key role of technology transfer champion/mentor in various phases of technology development and transfer is described. Differences in the methods for transferring technical knowledge, process recipes, software and hardware are highlighted. It is shown that the transfer of semiconductor technology is becoming a new discipline which intertwines engineering with management science.