NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY (NCKU) CHOOSES AIX 200 SYSTEM

!!! Press Release !!!

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) chooses AIX 200 System
stepping up research on GaInAsN materials for state-of-the-art
data transmission devices

Aachen/Tainan, 25 November, 2002 - AIXTRON confirms that within a co-operation agreement for technology development between AIXTRON and the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), an AIX 200 has been chosen for the development of state-of-the-art GaInAsN-based optical and electronic communications devices, such as long wavelength VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Edge Emitting Lasers) and HBTs (Hetero Bipolar Transistors).

Professor YanKuin Su, Department of Electrical Engineering at NCKU says "We are proud to have this long-term co-operation with AIXTRON as the market leader of MOCVD systems. Our decision was based on several important criteria such as System Performance and Reliability, Quality of Post-Sales Service and the excellent level of Quality Process Support. With AIXTRON's AIX 200, we have an equipment tool that fills these requirements to our highest satisfaction, whilst additionally displays a clear technical leadership, for research and technology transfer into volume production." Dr. Bernd Schulte, Executive Vice-President and COO of AIXTRON adds: "Thanks to AIXTRON's well proven MOCVD technology and similar reactor concepts across the total range of our machines, combined with the close co-operation with AIXTRON's Science based Research and Development Center in Taiwan, an easy technology transfer from this reactor to AIXTRON production machines can be achieved. This is clearly of great benefit to NCKU."

The many advantages of AIXTRON Reactors are well known world-wide. In addition to their user friendly operation and excellent process stability, the Planetary Reactor principle combines successfully very high precursor efficiencies with world best epilayer uniformities. Together with excellent reliability and high throughput, all these properties lead to a valuable device yield. Using AIXTRON's proven Technology, a wide variety of application markets for GaInAsN based devices, (that can be used as an alternative to expensive InP-based devices) have been opened up, such as fiber-optic lasers and extremely low power consuming amplifiers for next generation mobile phones.

AIXTRON is, as verified by VLSI Research Inc., the world leading supplier of equipment for semiconductor epitaxy. Its equipment is used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to manufacture critical, advanced components such as HBTs, PHEMTs, MESFETs, Lasers, LEDs, Detectors and VCSELs used in fibre optic communications systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical storage devices, illumination, signaling and lighting, as well as a range of other Leading-edge technologies. AIXTRON AG (FSE:AIX ISIN DE0005066203) is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World and the MSCI World Index.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Claus Ehrenbeck
Head of Investor Relations and
Corporate Communications
AIXTRON AG
Kackertstr. 15 - 17
D-52072 Aachen, Germany
Phone:+49 241 8909 444
Fax: +49 241 8909 445
E-mail: invest@aixtron.com