SEMATECH (from Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology) was a not-for-profit consortium that performed research and development to advance chip manufacturing. SEMATECH involved collaboration between various sectors of the R&D community, including chipmakers, equipment and material suppliers, universities, research institutes, and government partners. SEMATECH's mission was to rejuvenate the U.S. semiconductor industry through collective R&D efforts, focused on improving manufacturing processes and introducing cutting-edge technologies.
The group was first funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency until 1997 and later by member dues. SEMATECH was moved from Austin, Texas to Albany, New York in 2007 after receiving state funding from the state of New York. The consortium was absorbed by SUNY Polytechnic University in 2015 after a long decline, leaving behind a mixed legacy.