EqcoLogic project wins first prize in Belgian national "Enterprize" Competition

BRUSSELS, Belgium, 29 September 2005 - EqcoLogic, a brand new start-up company based in Brussels has won the first prize for a new project in a national competition sponsored by banks, advisors, press and government support organizations.

The "Enterprize" competition, managed by the Solvay Business Network, is an annual event that evaluates management teams, strategies and business plans. The team's presentations are judged by juries made up of senior representatives of the sponsoring organizations.

The EqcoLogic core business is in analogue electronics products, focused in particular on "equalizer" circuits used to recover digital signals that have been degraded by transmission over cables or copper traces on circuit boards. EqcoLogic expects its first revenues within its first year.

EqcoLogic is a spin-out of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and is commercialising patented technologies resulting from a number of years' research at the University. The company has an exclusive exploitation license granted by the University and is pursuing both licensing and fab-less product sales models.

The EqcoLogic management team includes Peter Helfet, CEO, who comes to the company with more than 25 years' experience in international technology company management. The principal inventor of the EqcoLogic technology, Professor Maarten Kuijk, has joined the company as CTO and Professor Roger Vounckx, head of the VUB's microelectronics department, is also a key member of the team.

About EqcoLogic

EqcoLogic is a privately funded Belgian company spun-out of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Formed in 2005, the company is commercializing the University's innovative high speed digital SERDES Equalizer technology made available through an exclusive world-wide license.

EqcoLogic is a fab-less semiconductor vendor, developing and supplying cable Equalizer devices; the company also sub-licenses the core technology and product designs in certain markets. Along with exceptional signal recovery, EqcoLogic chips offer excellent operational tolerances and low power consumption. Designed for standard CMOS processes, the circuits can also be integrated into other communications chips. EqcoLogic is targeting video, audio, automotive and server applications with a number of business partners.