Saifun Acquires 90nm Process Technology from SMIC
July 13, 2007
China-based SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International) and Israel-based Saifun Semiconductors announced on July 4, 2007 an agreement for Saifun to acquire IP (Intellectual Property) and 90nm process technology from SMIC. This IP acquisition marks the commencement of the two companies' joint efforts in NAND flash memory development. The first result, a 2GB flash memory chip combining SMIC's 90nm process technology and Saifun's NROM (Nitride Read-Only Memory) technology, has started sampling. A next-generation 8GB product will adopt Saifun's Quad NROM four-bit-per-cell technology and is expected to hit the market in early 2008.