SENATOR BRUNO AND GOVERNOR MAKE EPIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Arrival of Computer Chip Research Center Will Create Thousands of New Jobs in Capital Region

Thursday, July 18, 2002

Senator Bruno joined Governor George E. Pataki today in announcing that International SEMATECH -- a consortium of the 12 major computer chip manufacturers in the world -- will site its next generation 300 millimeter computer chip research and development center, to be called International SEMATECH North, at the Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics at the University at Albany.

SEMATECH selected New York after considering sites in Europe, the Pacific Rim and across the United States, based on New York�s leading position in chip research and development and the State�s business-friendly environment.

The Albany facility, to open in the Fall of 2002, will complement the first International SEMATECH facility, which is located in Austin, Texas. Since its opening in 1988, the Texas facility has had a tremendous impact on Austin and its regional economy. The Austin region�s population has more than doubled since 1990, from about 600,000 to more than 1.2 million, and technology- related employment has grown to a total of 125,000. More than 200 semiconductor-related companies and more than 450 software development companies are now located in the region.

"The Capital Region and all of upstate New York could see a transformation of epic proportions resulting in thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new investments with the selection of Albany as International Sematech North," said Senator Bruno. "Thanks to the perseverance and relentless efforts of Governor George Pataki, our pursuit of new jobs in emerging technologies and cutting edge research and development is paying off big time, establishing New York around the globe as a leader in the jobs and technologies of tomorrow."

"Forty-nine other states and nations from around the globe would be thrilled to have secured this facility, but it�s coming right here to New York where it will transform the Upstate economy and bring thousands of new high-paying jobs to the Capital District, the Hudson Valley, the Mohawk Valley and beyond," Governor Pataki said.

"This historic announcement makes clear that our Center of Excellence initiative, supported by our tax-cutting policies that have improved our business climate and investments to improve our quality of life and our schools, has been an unqualified success. This center will enhance our Centers of Excellence in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and on Long Island as New York takes its rightful place as an international leader in high-tech research and economic development. I want to thank the members of International SEMATECH for their vote of confidence in New York State."

The International SEMATECH (Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology) research and development consortium includes: US firms: IBM, Intel, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, Advanced Micro Devices, Agere Systems (Lucent); European firms: Philips (Netherlands), Infineon Technologies (Germany), and STMicroelectronics (France); and Asian firms: Hynix (Korea), TSMC (Taiwan).

The agreement between New York and International SEMATECH includes approximately $400 million in State and Industry support over the next five years, consisting of $210 million from the State (including $50 million previously announced for the Center of Excellence at Albany and included in the 2002-03 State budget) and $193 million from International SEMATECH and its member companies, including IBM.

The State�s investment will be primarily for capital construction, equipment and specialized tools for International SEMATECH North research. International SEMATECH North will immediately employ about 250 researchers at the Albany site, and serve as a catalyst for private sector growth for years to come.

International SEMATECH was initially established in 1987 to increase the United State�s worldwide market share of the chip industry and has since expanded its mission to be the lead R &D; organization for worldwide semiconductor manufacturers. International SEMATECH�s goal is to improve semiconductor manufacturing technologies for computer efficiency, consumer products and military weapon systems. International SEMATECH currently has a facility in Austin, Texas employing 600 researchers, focused on 200 millimeter computer chip technology.

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