Research at SINTEF is concentrated on developing and using mainstream technology (silicon) as a base for a class of electronic systems that will result in integrated circuits that function at temperatures over 200°C. The circuits developed, HOTASIC^â, HTASIC^â, are CMOS and BiCMOS circuits and have the advantage of cost and availability over circuits based on technologies such as GaAs, SiC, diamond, and III-V nitrides.

Due to the challenges of oil exploration/exploatation in the North Sea, SINTEF is involved in designing high temperature electronics for well logging applications. The results are based on SINTEF's experience in successfully designing application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for high temperatures as well as knowledge in packaging and interconnections. By combining these strengths, SINTEF is able to design new compact tools for the well logging industry. The tools are currently temperature specific to 200°C, sufficent for operating in the North Sea oil fields.

The expertise SINTEF  has gained in developing tools and high temperature integrated circuits for oil companies, can be applied to designing new ASICs for other applications as well, such as automotive, aerospace, consumer, and industrial.