Apple joins Imec's new Sustainable Semiconductor research program

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Imec Apple (Image credit: Imec)

What you need to know

  • Apple has joined a new sustainable chip technology program.
  • Imec has announced a new Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems (SSTS) research initiative.
  • It aims to anticipate the impact of making chips at the technology's "definition phase."

Apple has joined a new Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems (SSTS) created by Imec to research and reduce the impact of making chips.

Imec announced today:

Imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, today announces that Apple Inc. has joined imec's brand-new Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems (SSTS) research program. The SSTS program is the first initiative rallying stakeholders from across the IC value chain to anticipate the environmental impact of choices made at chip technology's definition phase. Using concrete and reliable models, and detailed (carbon) footprint analyses, the program will help the IC-making industry cut back on its ecological footprint – as part of the global fight against climate change, resources depletion, and pollution.

Imec CEO Luc Van Den Hove said "Many systems companies are carbon neutral today for their corporate footprints and have expressed the ambition to have their entire carbon footprint to net-zero by 2030. They are very committed to achieving that goal, yet often lack the data to decipher the IC part end-to-end," and that imec could help them achieve that goal. imec says that research indicates 75% of a mobile device's CO2 emissions can be attributed to fabrication, and that half of that comes from IC manufacturing. The new SSTS program is described as combining " imec's insights in infrastructure, technology, and machinery to help the complete IC value chain reduce its ecological footprint" with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of making chips at the technology's "definition phase."

Imec is a Belgian company with over 5,000 employees conducting research and development into advanced semiconductor scaling, AI, and more.

Stephen Warwick
Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9