SAN JOSE, Calif. — Next-generation memory hopeful Ovonyx Inc. has named Stefan Lai, a former executive from Intel Corp., as its new vice president of business development.

Lai will provide direct support to Ovonyx' and its licensee joint development partners in various new and pre-existing programs in pursuit of the company's phase-change nonvolatile memory technology.

Intel, Samsung and STMicroelectronics are developing products based on the technology from Ovonyx, part of Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (Rochester Hills, Calif.)

Prior to joining Ovonyx, Lai was vice president of the Flash Memory Group and chief technology officer and co-director of California Manufacturing and Technology at Intel Corp. During his 24 year career at Intel, Lai played a critical role in establishing Intel's leadership position in NOR flash memory, by co-inventing the industry-standard ETOX flash memory cell.