Leveraging external R&D funding: Harris Semiconductor´s approach to university programs

Harris Semiconductor has developed a comprehensive external R&D program of which university R&D plays a major role. The methods for selecting the right programs, initiating new programs, managing existing programs, and transferring technology into Harris are addressed. Effective approaches to leveraging the R&D dollar investment are discussed, including both securing additional external R&D dollars for the effort and appropriate internal activities that can ensure that the dollars are well spent. In connection with technology transfer, a customer-oriented approach is used that very early in the process identifies the end user of the research, with expectations and plans for technology transfer being dealt with in the initial proposal. Issues such as compatibility of software, process development equipment issues, and availability of resources to deal with the transfers become very critical. The amount of development work that must be done to fully realize the benefits of the university research is generally underestimated. Various methods of carrying out this development work are explored through specific case studies