Technology Sep. 12, 2008 - 04:04AM JST ( 0 )

TOKYO —

Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd President Haruki Okada said Thursday that the firm is in talks with overseas and domestic companies on possible joint development of a next-generation chip with a circuit line width of 32 nanometers. The chipmaking unit of Fujitsu Ltd will not alone make a massive investment in the chip’s development, Okada said.

The company is considering how it can cooperate with other companies, he said, showing its intention to proceed with the negotiations with joint production or future business integration in mind.

Fujitsu Microelectronics plans to conclude the talks on the project, which is seen to cost tens of billions of yen, by the end of the current fiscal year to March 2009.

The chipmaker is also considering partnerships in such areas as chips for in-car devices and home electronics, Okada added.

Meanwhile, Okada said business is getting tougher due mainly to the slumping chip market.
The company will make all efforts to achieve its sales target of 490 billion yen for the current year by launching new chips for digital televisions in Europe and focusing on products that combine information and security technologies, Okada said.

JCN