Balaji Kannan

Balaji Kannan possesses extensive experience in process development and integration within the semiconductor industry. Currently serving as Director of Process Development at ASM since May 2020, Balaji leads a team focused on advancing ALD technology for High-K/Metal Gate modules. Prior to this, Balaji held roles at Applied Materials, including Process Engineer Director, where significant contributions were made to R&D alliances and the development of novel power electronic devices. At GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Balaji was a Principal Member of the Technical Staff, leading teams in the design and implementation of 7nm Gate Stack Module technology. Earlier experience includes positions at IBM, contributing to High-K/Metal Gate technology for advanced transistor nodes, and Intel Corp., where Balaji specialized in photolithography for NOR flash memory processes. Educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.