International Roadmap for Devices and Systems

International Roadmap for Devices and Systems
Name	International Roadmap for Devices and Systems
Founded	2016
Predecessor	International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors
Focus	Semiconductor technology forecasting
Region served	Worldwide
Key people	Paolo Gargini (Chair Emeritus)
Website	irds.ieee.org

International Roadmap for Devices and Systems. It is a global, collaborative effort to forecast the future needs and challenges of the semiconductor industry and related computing systems. Established as the successor to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, it is managed by the IEEE and guides research and development for the next 15 years. The roadmap provides critical insights into technological bottlenecks, potential solutions, and emerging applications, influencing investment and policy worldwide.

Overview and History

The initiative was formally launched in 2016, evolving from the long-standing International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors which had guided the industry since the 1990s. This transition was driven by the recognition that future progress required a broader, system-level perspective beyond traditional CMOS scaling. Key figures like Paolo Gargini, former chairman of the ITRS, played a pivotal role in its formation. The creation of the roadmap was a response to the challenges highlighted by the Semiconductor Industry Association and global partners, aiming to address the end of Moore's law and the rise of heterogeneous integration.

Structure and Governance

Governance is overseen by the IEEE through its IEEE Standards Association, which provides the institutional framework and sponsors the effort. A central International Roadmap Committee sets the strategic direction and approves the publication of reports. This committee comprises experts from leading global corporations such as Intel, Samsung, and TSMC, as well as representatives from academia and research consortia like IMEC and the Semiconductor Research Corporation. The structure ensures alignment with the goals of major industry bodies, including the Global Semiconductor Alliance.

Technical Working Groups and Focus Areas

The technical work is conducted by multiple focused teams that analyze specific domains. Key groups include the More than Moore group, which explores functional diversification beyond scaling, and the System Integration group, focusing on 2.5D and 3D integration techniques like silicon interposer technology. Other critical areas are examined by the Beyond CMOS group, investigating novel devices such as spintronics and carbon nanotube transistors, and the Architecture, System, and Software group, which studies the co-design of hardware with emerging workloads for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Roadmap Reports and Key Forecasts

The consortium publishes comprehensive reports, most notably the biennial "International Roadmap for Devices and Systems" document. These publications provide detailed forecasts on technology nodes, material innovations like high-k dielectrics, and performance targets for logic and memory technologies. Recent editions have emphasized the increasing importance of advanced packaging, the evolution of DRAM and NAND flash, and the integration of photonics with silicon. The forecasts are critical for planning at foundries like GlobalFoundries and for equipment suppliers such as ASML and Applied Materials.

Impact on Semiconductor Industry

The roadmap has a profound influence on global research and development priorities and capital investment strategies. It helps align the efforts of equipment manufacturers, materials science researchers, and integrated circuit designers, reducing risk and identifying inflection points. Its analyses underpin major industry initiatives, including the CHIPS Act in the United States and similar programs in the European Union and South Korea. By highlighting challenges in lithography and metrology, it directly informs the development agendas of organizations like SEMI and the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association.

Relationship to Other Roadmaps

It maintains a synergistic relationship with several other forecasting documents. It is considered the overarching guide that informs more specialized roadmaps, such as the HIR for heterogeneous integration and roadmaps for compound semiconductors from organizations like the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association. It also coordinates with regional efforts, including those by the European Semiconductor Industry Association and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China. This ecosystem of roadmaps ensures a cohesive global strategy for sustaining progress in the post-Moore's law era.

Category:Semiconductor industry Category:IEEE Category:Technology forecasting