FST.L Regulatory News (FST)

23 Dec 2005 07:00

Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Friday 23 December 2005 Nanoscience Inc. (`Nanoscience' or `the Group') Update Nanoscience, the specialist nanotechnology investment holding company, ispleased to outline the progress that has been achieved since it successfullycompleted the acquisition of Imperial College spin out company, ToumazTechnology Limited ('Toumaz') in November 2005. Toumaz designs and develops lowpower and ultra-low power integrated circuits and silicon chips for use inwireless and signal processing applications, and it is upon this principalactivity that this update focuses.It has been a progressive period for Toumaz during which management has beensuccessful in securing both a manufacturing partner for Toumaz's chips and anagreement to licence out intellectual property to an industry renownedcommunications and electronic sensor specialist, which delivers industryleading products in a range of markets across the civil and defence arenas.Further details are set out below.Richard Rose, Non-Executive Chairman, commented:'This has been a key stage of development for Toumaz during which it has hadboth the challenge of integrating with the rest of the Group as well as theopportunity to accelerate its business development by utilising the increasedcapital made available to it from the Group's resources.I am delighted to report that Toumaz has risen to these challenges and achievednotable progress towards its goal of becoming a viable and competitive fablesssemiconductor business with a world leading product range and industrycompatible supply model. I would like to take this opportunity to thankeveryone at Toumaz for their efforts and look forward to reporting on furtherprogress in due course.'Manufacturing AgreementSince joining the Group, Toumaz has signed an agreement with Infineon to usethe global manufacturer's advanced 130 nanometre RF CMOS process to produceToumaz's Generation 1 and Generation 2 Sensium chips. Toumaz is the first thirdparty to be offered the use of Infineon's process and is planning to deliverthe first prototype chip in mid January. As part of the agreement, Infineonwill license certain intellectual property, predominantly digital blocks andcores, to Toumaz for integration into the Sensium devices.The 130 nanometre RF CMOS process, which is currently being run at Infineon'sAltis Semiconductor fabrication facility in France, is expected to bereplicated at another European site.Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and systemsolutions for automotive, industrial and multimarket sectors, for applicationsin communication, as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineonoperates through its subsidiaries in the US from San Jose, CA, in theAsia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2005(ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 6.8 billion with about35,600 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of theFrankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol:IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.Licence Agreement for delivery of intellectual propertytoRoke Manor ResearchLimited (`Roke Manor')Toumaz has also signed a licence agreement to deliver intellectual property forthe design of certain sub-systems (or circuit blocks) for low power radio chipsbeing developed by Roke Manor.Roke Manor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG and works in a range ofmarkets across the civil and defence arenas and employs a number of leadingengineers and scientists. Based in Romsey on the south coast of England, itdevelops novel solutions to customer problems and produces communications andelectronic sensor technology. -Ends- Further Information:Serge Grisard Nanoscience + 44 1235 438 976 + 44 7914 223 782 Andrew Tan Hansard Communications 020 7245 1100 ENDNANOSCIENCE INC