Semiconductor industry - model for industry/university/government cooperation

Semiconductor companies have pooled forces to address a variety of industry-wide problems. The first step was the formation of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) which worked in cooperation with the federal government to resolve an adverse competitive situation vis a vis Japanese companies. In 1982, the SIA formed the Semiconductor Research corporation with dual objectives of developing highly qualified technical personnel for employment and conducting a program of long-range, pre-competitive research and technology development. In 1987, SEMATECH was formed, a company for technology development. To guide the research, SIA produced the Semiconductor Technology Roadmap which has resulted in better relations with the government and the academe.