-- Advantest (TYO:6857) has joined the EPIC platform of Applied Materials as an innovation partner and set up a new research center in Silicon Valley to deepen collaboration on chip development, according to a Tuesday company statement.
The move is aimed at strengthening links between front-end manufacturing and back-end testing, as rising complexity in AI and high-performance computing chips drives demand for closer industry coordination.
Advantest said its new Innovation Center, located on Applied Materials' campus, will support joint work on integrating manufacturing processes, inspection and final testing.
The partnership is expected to help chipmakers accelerate development timelines and improve efficiency in bringing next-generation semiconductor designs to market.
Advantest said closer collaboration across the supply chain will be key to addressing growing technological demands and advancing 3D packaging and other emerging technologies.