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			Strained silicon performance enhancements increase processing speed and reduce power consumption.

AmberWave raises $21 million for strained silicon

Peter Clarke
Silicon Strategies
(06/02/2004 10:00 AM EDT)

SALEM, N.H. — AmberWave Systems Corp., developer of strained silicon technology, has raised $21 million in its latest round of financing, the company said Wednesday (June 2).

AmberWave said it would use the money to commercialize its strained silicon technology. The company previously announced that Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Corp., one of the largest suppliers of silicon wafers to the semiconductor industry, had agreed to license its strained silicon technology in December 2003. The lead investor in the latest round was 3i. It was joined by previous investors Adams Capital Management, Arch Ventures, Telesoft Partners and Hillman Companies.

AmberWave's strained silicon technology is based on ten years of R&D at MIT and AT&T Bell Laboratories and a portfolio of over 100 issued and pending patents. The company said it has demonstrated the ability to increase speed in CMOS circuits by 17 percent at the same power consumption level while reducing power consumption by 34 percent at the same speed.

"Semiconductor manufacturers continue to look to new ways to enhance device performance and strained silicon is one of the industry's most promising technologies," said Marko Maschek, the 3i partner who is set to join AmberWave's board of directors.

"The semiconductor's biggest players — IBM, Texas Instruments, Intel, Motorola, Toshiba, TSMC to name a few — are announcing their interest in strained silicon," said AmberWave CEO Robert Faubert.

About AmberWave Systems
Founded in 1998, AmberWave Systems has become a leader in the research, development and licensing of advanced technologies for semiconductor manufacturing. By funding and guiding university research, AmberWave Systems is bringing new technology developments to fruition through patents and technology licensing. In conjunction with its university research projects, AmberWave Systems conducts its own research, development and limited manufacturing in its semiconductor fabrication facility in Salem, New Hampshire. In addition, AmberWave Systems collaborates with other technology focused companies to further expand and develop its research. For more information about the company, please visit its Web site at www.amberwave.com.