The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that NEC Corporation (Japan), the world’s eighth-largest semiconductor manufacturer, has successfully developed technology for producing microprocessors with a circuit width of 55 nanometers (nm).
With this technology, the chips will be smaller, transmit data faster, and be more cost-effective. NEC plans to begin mass production in 2007.
However, NEC’s office has not yet issued any official comment.
Looking towards 45nm technology, NEC and TOSHIBA, the seventh-largest company in the semiconductor industry, have announced they will collaborate to share research costs and shorten the time required to commercialize their products. The costs for research and development of production for devices such as microprocessors will rise significantly as the circuit widths continue to shrink, presenting a substantial challenge for chip manufacturers.
Intel, the largest chip manufacturer in the world, announced that it will build a 45nm chip manufacturing plant in Israel, valued at approximately $3.5 billion, as well as a similar facility in Arizona, USA; however, the timeline for these projects remains uncertain.
Regardless, as chip manufacturing technology progresses, consumers will benefit from faster, more affordable products, and developing countries will have additional opportunities to enhance their technology.
H&Q
