STMicroelectronics Joins the Num@tec Automotive Consortium, An Initiative Launched by the “SYSTEM@TIC PARIS-REGION” Competitiveness Cluster

Paris, June 2008. STMicroelectronics, one of the world leader in semiconductors for automotive applications* and the French SYSTEM@TIC PARIS-REGION competitiveness cluster today announced that ST has joined the Num@tec Automotive consortium as a technical partner.

SYSTEM@TIC PARIS-REGION, a world-class competitiveness cluster, is engaged in developing software technologies to power the systems of tomorrow. Launched in 2004, Num@tec Automotive is tasked with organizing and coordinating collaborative R&D in the field of automotive electronics, as well as to increase the competitiveness of the automotive and rail industries by promoting industry-focused R&D projects.

Today, most innovations in the automotive industry are powered by electronic technologies, with microelectronics and software playing an increasingly dominant role. Additionally, the increasingly rich array of functionalities deployed on a single vehicle calls for ever more sophisticated electronic and computer architectures.

STMicroelectronics will bring a wealth of experience to the Num@tec Automotive consortium and to the industry in general with its:

Extensive experience in electronics architectures and complex applications needed to meet the requirements of the transportation industry such as a higher level of operational safety,
Expertise in next-generation microcontrollers,
knowledge in the field of driving-assistance systems-on-chips and sensors (cameras, MEMS, radar, etc) ,
Knowledge-sharing across all competitiveness clusters in other fields such as power electronics.

For ST, the tie-up with SYSTEM@TIC PARIS-REGION will enable it to:

Align its development work with that carried out by other members of Num@tec for better joint definition of future solutions,
Initiate and implement collaborative R&D projects relating to the priorities established by the consortium,
Contribute to the definition of new software programming and development tools (operations systems, validation systems, etc),
Take part in the definition of new standards for components and development procedures (e.g. the ISO 26262 standard, etc).

The SYSTEM@TIC PARIS-REGION Competitiveness cluster, which brings together both Research and higher education centres and companies working in computing, aeronautics, the automotive industry and rail transport, encourages synergies between highly varied fields of expertise and leverages the Paris Ile-de-France region’s rich pool of know-how in developing innovative solutions for application throughout the industry.
Automotive is one of the fastest growing-segment of the electronic equipment application markets. According to consultants Strategic Analytics, the world semiconductor market for automotive applications should be worth $18 billion in 2008 and be in excess of $25 billion by 2012 - an average annual growth of 9%. Electronic safety applications (widely used in collision detection and prevention systems), more traditional solutions such as those used in airbags and ABS braking systems, and applications relating to telematics and navigation are all areas designed to improve driving safety, and more generally, the quality and diversity of offers available to the consumer.

* STMicroelectronics is the third largest supplier of semiconductors to the automotive industry, according to research analyst iSuppli (May 2008). The automotive industry accounted for 15% of ST’s sales in 2007; the company’s principal customers include the top 10 automotive equipment manufacturers worldwide.