Alcatel, Thales Form R&D Lab

PARIS -- Thales (TCFP.PA) and Alcatel (Paris : CGEP.PA and NYSE : ALA) todayannounced the creation of a joint research laboratory dedicated to semiconductor technologies,targeting applications in telecommunications, defense, space and security. The laboratory, known asthe Alcatel-Thales III-V Lab, will re-enforce both companies’ world-class expertise in the field ofoptoelectronic and microelectronic components based on III-V technologies.

A consortium (Groupement d’Interêt Economique) equally held by Thales and Alcatel will managethe Alcatel-Thales III-V Lab. It combines the relevant industrial research activities from Alcatel,European research leader in optoelectronic components for telecommunications, and from Thales,European leader in hyper-frequency optoelectronic and microelectronic R&D for defenseapplications.

The main objectives of the lab are to develop strategic technologies to guarantee competitivenessand autonomy of both companies; anticipate scientific and technical advances and their impact onfuture systems; establish scientific and industrial partnerships; industrial transfer to parentcompanies, industrial partners or high-tech small and medium enterprises.

Niel Ransom, Alcatel’s Chief Technology Officer declared: “The gathering of these two researchunits offers great synergy opportunities regarding research infrastructures and tools. It also presentsexcellent complementarities at the staff skill level. Alcatel is the world leader in optical systems fortelecommunications. It is essential for our future to preserve the mastery of technologies to beembedded in our future systems.”

Dominique Vernay, Thales’s Chief Technology Officer, declared: “This joint lab embodies ourpartnership research policy, to realize a dual technology platform and to develop specificcomponents designed for our needs. For Thales, the strategic dimension of the research topicsencompassed by the lab is an assurance of its success.”

Thales SA

Alcatel SA