The board of directors JSC Mikron decided to set up an open joint stock company Molecular Electronics Research Institute (MERI). Some changes in the chief executive sector were also made. The General director Krasnikov acquired several appointments as Director General of MERI, the Chairman of the CD and General Designer of Mikron. The Director General of JSC Mikron became Mikhail Biryukov before he was deputy director general for business development.

MERI will be a part of SITRONICS Microelectronics that made a visible breakthrough in Russian microelectronics within last 5 years. That fact provided an opportunity to overcome 5 technological generations lagging behind from the world leaders. During the first period of modernization SITRONICS Microelectronics launched the current 180nm ICs production. The 90nm ICs production launching is being commissioned. The second period of modernization presupposes the development of its own local technologies and unique products thanks to the activity of R&D. Therefore the decision to establish MERI as an independent company was made. MERI has integrated best experiences of soviet and Russian scientific schools. The academician Krasnikov was appointed the director general of MERI. Krasnikov is still in charge of business lead SITRONICS Microelectronics. The post of General Designer of JSC Mikron was introduced and it will focus on commercialization of MERI’s advanced projects within the Mikron’s 8” Fab.

 
Gennady Krasnikov facing the board of directors’ decision said: “Micro – and nano-electronics is the science based sphere that advances beyond the costs in R&D expenses that comes out in other spheres. Annual costs of semiconductors producers for research amount to 18 % from the sales volume. Following the world practice we introduce MERI to widen the technological level 180-90 nm in the Mikron’s 8” Fab, the creation of new technologies, 65-45nm and less, the coordination of Russian Academy of Science’s work, some other institutes and laboratories in order to make them commercial in the mass semiconductors production”.