FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Rajiv Enand with Caracal, 724- 763-2111 ext. 101; rajiv@caracalsemi.com
Brad Clemenson for Congressman Murtha, 1-800-289-2642

Murtha: Caracal wins $1M in research contracts

FORD CITY, PA, Sept. 19, 2005 - U.S. Rep. John Murtha today announced that Caracal, a local maker of silicon carbide semiconductors, has been awarded over $1 million of research contracts from the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program of the Office of Naval Research.

The contracts will enable Caracal to improve the process of growing Silicon Carbide crystals from which the semiconductors are produced.  The goal of the program is to reduce the cost of making silicon carbide wafers while increasing their quality.  The University of South Florida in Tampa will partner with Caracal on portions of the work.   

Dr. Colin Wood of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research stated “Silicon Carbide (silicon carbide) based semiconductors will play an important role in future US Navy all electric ships/vehicles as well as many advanced weapons systems.  The use of silicon carbide will result in more efficient weapons systems that protect our war fighters.  Caracal's innovative approach to growing this material can play an important role in ensuring the DOD has ample supply of high quality silicon carbide at lower costs.”

“These SBIR contracts are extremely competitive, and the fact that Caracal has won an award of this size demonstrates the growing confidence that the Navy's technical people have in Caracal's technical capabilities,” Murtha said.

These Phase II SBIR contracts follow the $300K in Phase I contracts awarded to Caracal in 2004, bringing the total value of contracts to date to more than $1.3M. Should the Navy decide to exercise its options on these contracts, the total funding may be increased by an additional $1.6M to a level of $2.9M in total.

“In the last 2 years, Caracal has made a major investment in Ford City by renovating the former PPG Shop II facility and developing our unique equipment and processes for making these Silicon Carbide wafers.  These contracts will enable us to complete the research and development to get our product to market,” said Mr. Rajiv Enand, CEO of Caracal.  “We are very grateful to the US Navy for this level of support!”

About Caracal           
Caracal is an advanced semiconductor materials company that will manufacture and distribute silicon carbide-based semiconductors.  These devices will enable solutions which are currently impossible using standard silicon technology in a wide range of consumer, defense and industrial applications.  In partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Borough of Ford City and the federal government, the company recently transformed an abandoned PPG brownfield site in Ford City into a 10,000 Sq. Ft. state-of-the-art facility for manufacturing Silicon Carbide wafers.

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