"This is a very exciting program, which perfectly illustrates our strong involvement with the education and research communities. It is essential that university students and researchers can have access to the most advanced technologies, which we have been providing in cooperation with CMP for two decades," said Patrick Cogez, Director, Universities and External Relations, Front-End Technology and Manufacturing at STMicroelectronics. "Ensuring that universities have access to our leading-edge technologies also helps us to attract the best young engineers as part of our commitment to remain a technology leader on a long-term basis."

Bernard Courtois, Director of CMP, cited a sharp growth in the number of CMOS devices being produced at more leading-edge nodes. In 2007, at the 90nm node there had been nearly a 100 percent increase with 91 devices designed compared to 57 in 2006 and 32 in 2005.