Mattson Technology, Inc. has announced a 5% reduction in its workforce. Citing the recent downturn in the semiconductor equipment sector as the impetus behind the cuts, the 5% reduction will amount to approximately 25 positions being cut “in selected organizations,” according to the company. It is expected that the reduction will be complete by the end of the next fiscal quarter. 

In an effort at cutting costs and improving operating performance, Xilinx, Inc. has decided to cut 7% of its workforce, which represents approximately 250 employees. The cuts will incur charges of between $18 and $22 million, the majority of which cost will be recorded in the company’s 1Q09 fiscal report. The job losses are expected to be put into effect by the end of the next fiscal quarter.

In an effort to strengthen links with Chinese academic and research communities, STMicroelectronics and IC broker Circuits Multi Projects (CMP) have announced that they are to offer Chinese universities access to ST’s advanced CMOS processes for research purposes. 

Just over a week after Tower Semiconductor’s acquisition of Jazz Semiconductor, Tower has announced that it is implementing cost-cutting measures. While the company claims that it has yet to receive approximately $40 million in overdue grants from the Israeli government, the money-saving steps being taken by the company include the cutting of around 170 employees’ jobs. 

MIPS Technologies has collaborated with the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP) to establish an engineering design course that will see the University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department provide a research foundation for students as well as an opportunity to access MIPS Technologies’ IP for research purposes. 

The Institute for System Level Integration, iSLI, has announced that it is hosting a course on Digital Test Technology and Design for Test (DFT) in Bath, England in May. Running from the 6th to the 9th of May, the course is being run by iSLI in collaboration with Silicon South West. 

The AMD rumor mill has been proved correct in its doubt for the future of the company’s staff. A planned 10 percent cut in the company workforce was confirmed yesterday, which could mean close to 1,600 layoffs in store for the company by the end of the third quarter of 2008. 

Israel-based Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. has announced its intention to cut 6% of its approximately 290-strong workforce, according to a story at  EETimes. The reason given for the cuts is the weakening dollar. Nova’s business dealings are mainly carried out in U.S. dollars, while the majority of its daily running costs are incurred in New Israeli Shekels. 

IMEC’s engineering courses are to be continued this year from May to June 2008 at IMEC’s Leuven, Belgium-based facility. The two- and three-day courses are geared towards engineers, technicians, managers and executives with responsibility in the realms of process development, device design and manufacture, research and marketing. 

Established in October 2007, the Irish Technology Leadership Group’s Silicon Valley Awards are part of a new program set up to encourage Irish technology companies to bring their business to the U.S. and conversely to instigate investment in Irish technology companies by Silicon Valley-based technology companies.