Toshiba together with its Brazilian affiliate, STI (Semp Toshiba Information), have built a semiconductor design house in Brazil, according to an August 16, 2011 report by the Japan Today. Dubbed STI Semiconductor Design Brazil, the joint venture is set up based on an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed in early December 2010 among Toshiba, STI, and VBC (Wernher von Braun Center for Advanced Research), an electronics engineering research institute of Brazil. The purpose of the MoU is to further strengthen economic and industrial ties between Japan and Brazil, including the development of a semiconductor industry in Brazil.

In related news, Toshiba plans to streamline its semiconductor lineup to boost efficiency, according to an August 13, 2011 report by Nikkei. It is projected that Toshiba will cut its current chipset production lineup for automobiles and electronics from approximately 6,000 types to around 3,000 by the end of this business year.