Ann: Becoming a substantial holder, page-289

In my opinion the IMEC development program has reached its natural conclusion with PL4 being a working megabit chip. Maybe there are tweaks around the edges, but they have the process window - they have a good idea of the tuning window and now they have examples of the cells functioning as a coherent memory device.

Testing is showing excellent read/write speeds and they are continuing to test for endurance and retention. That was the whole point of going to IMEC in the first place. To run the tech on the test track and get some metrics back.

4DS have put the engine in the race car that the industry all developed together and gave to IMEC. 4DS then ran the car on the test track that industry all agreed was suitable for the assessment of an emerging memory technology.

To take this further (reduce the node size for example) its probable that some proprietary technology would be required. Is 4DS expected to fund all of this? If so, I would be saying, "fine, we'll do the work, which you will fund, but it doesn't guarantee you exclusivity to the IP." Meaning, offers from competitors will be fielded even though memory maker A has stumped up a heap of development cash.

If someone wants to develop this to a commercial product, then they need to pay up to keep the IP to themselves.