Topic: Is Moore’s Law Ending? Why is the Moore’s Law Ending? What are the Opportunities in Semiconductors?

Speaker: Prof. Philip C.H. Chan

Date: Friday, November 17, 2023

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Venue: W201, Administration Building

Language: English

Abstract:

Moore’s Law is the “law” governing the advancements in the field of semiconductor integrated circuits. Dr. Gordon Moore of Intel observed that the number of transistors double every 18 months. This is remarkable progress and never happened in human history. Moore's law is an observation and projection of a historical trend. Rather than a law of physics, it is an empirical relationship gained from experience in integrated circuit manufacturing. In this talk, I shall share with you the key technologies behind this progress. Like any good thing, it is likely to end. This leads to the question: Is Moore’s Law ending? This talk shall review the forces that drive the ending of Moore’s Law and suggest opportunities in the post-Moore’s Law era.

Speaker Profile:

Prof. Philip C.H. Chan (陈正豪) obtained his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Davis in 1973, and received the MS and the PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1975 and 1978 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the mentorship of Prof. Chih-Tang Sah (萨支唐), the co-inventor of CMOS. He started his career as an IBM Postdoctoral Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor at UIUC. He joined Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, California in 1981. At Intel, he worked on integrated circuit technology development, multichip packaging, and circuit design. In 1991, he returned to Hong Kong to join the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as a founding member of the University. He served as the Head of the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department (1997 to 2002). He served as the Dean of Engineering (2003-2009), and Director of HKUST's Microelectronics Fabrication Facility (1997-2003). He was appointed the Deputy President and Provost of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2010. He retired from the University in 2020.

Professor Chan is a Fellow of the Institute of IEEE, a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. He has advised the Government on the set-up of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and served on its board and as the chair of the Technology Committee. Professor Chan was the recipient of the ECE Distinguished Alumni Award from the UIUC in 2010. He was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Hong Kong Government for his exemplary effort in promoting innovation and technology development in Hong Kong, as well as his valuable contribution to the education sector.