SEMICON West Adds New Programs

Once again SEMICON West is nearly upon us — providing a forum for the semiconductor industry to evaluate and discuss today's technologies, issues and trends. An issue remnant from last year and remaining in the forefront is the state of the industry — has technology taken a back seat to economics? In particular, will technology migrations slow down and investment in technology decrease? Although answers remain in limbo, SEMICON West remains the venue to gain knowledge of the industry's new developments.

SEMICON West events will again be divided between wafer processing and final manufacturing. The front end is scheduled for July 14-16 at the San Francisco Moscone Center and the back end will be July 16-18 at the San Jose Convention Center. Exhibition hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except for the last day of each segment, when the hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to the exhibition, technical and business programs, workshops, standards meetings and events are scheduled July 13-18.

The technical and business programs cover a range of topics. (See the schedules for San Francisco and San Jose below.) There are a few new events to take note of this year:

• The first Technology Innovation Showcase brings visibility to innovators, large and small, to present their innovations before an audience of IC manufacturers, suppliers and investors. Attendance is free and open to all SEMICON West attendees and exhibitors. It will be held July 14 at Moscone Center.
• International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) Conference is the result of a new partnership with International SEMATECH. The 2003 update will be presented by each of the Technology Working Groups, followed by audience questions. It will be held July 16 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel (San Francisco).
• MEMS Pavilion and Conference will be held July 16 at Moscone Center and is coordinated by MANCEF and the MEMS Industry Group (MIG). It is a one-day session that details the manufacturing process from prototype to final product.
• Fab Managers Forum is a new event hosted by SEMI and SEMATECH. It brings together industry executives to discuss trends and strategies. The theme is "Current and Future Trends in Semiconductor Manufacturing." Sessions include the impact of China's market, strategies for enhanced manufacturing productivity, and issues in advanced manufacturing. It will be held July 17 at National Semiconductor (Sunnyvale, Calif.).

In addition, the SEMI Technology Symposium: Innovations in Semiconductor Manufacturing (STS:ISM) features a new program lineup with more than 100 speakers presenting technical advances. The sessions will be held all day July 15 at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel. The program's San Jose counterpart, SEMI Technology Symposium: International Electronics Manufacturing Technology (STS:IEMT), is a forum on electronic components and systems manufacturing technology, co-sponsored by SEMI and IEEE/CPMT. It will be held July 16 at the San Jose Marriott Hotel. A complete listing of the sessions can be found on the SEMI website.

Another program added is "How to Succeed in the China Market," being held July 18 in San Jose. Speakers from chipmakers, equipment and materials suppliers and government agencies will share experiences in the fast-growing China market. Experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will convey the resources available to planning or expanding operations in China.

SEMI International Standards meetings provide a neutral forum for the exchange of information among suppliers and end users to establish a set of guidelines for the industry. The program features input from more than 3500 technologists throughout the industry.

Schedules will be available at the Standards Information desk at the San Francisco Marriott and the SEMI booths in the San Francisco Moscone Center and San Jose Convention Center. Any changes to the schedule can be checked at www.semi.org/standards. Meetings will be held July 13-18 in San Francisco, and July 16 in San Jose. Meetings are open to all at no charge and do not require preregistration.

For an expanded preview of SEMICON West, check out Semiconductor International's Mid-June show extra, which will include technology trends, maps, exhibitor lists, and show products. Our July issue will also highlight show products.