Document:

<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT 10.21

Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a  request for
confidential treatment and such portions have been filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commissions. These portions are designated by the
symbol ***.

                              RESEARCH AGREEMENT

1.   PARTIES

     1.1  The parties to this Agreement are E. I. du Pont de Nemours and
     Company, having a place of business at 1007 Market Street, Wilmington, DE
     ("DuPont") and DuPont Photomasks, Inc., having a place of business at 131
     Old Settlers Blvd., Round Rock, TX ("DPI").

2.   BACKGROUND

     2.1  This Agreement covers a research project undertaken by DuPont at the
     request of DPI pursuant to a Research, Development and Consulting Agreement
     between DuPont and DPI effective on January 1, 1996.

3.   SCOPE

     3.1  DuPont shall provide research and materials development activity in
     the area of advanced photomask technology, such as photomasks, blanks and
     pellicles, as more specifically defined below.  Specifically DuPont will
     continue development of advanced phase shift mask technology and work to
     develop a material suitable for use as pellicles, particularly a 157 nm
     pellicle, and will support DPI's efforts to fabricate a pellicle using the
     developed material.  DuPont shall provide DPI with Milestone reports
     summarizing the activities of DuPont undertaken pursuant to this Agreement
     according to the attached schedule in Appendix A.

     3.2  By "Field" herein is meant "photomasks, blanks and pellicles" wherein
     these terms are defined as photomasks, photoblanks and pellicles, used in
     photolithography for microelectronic applications (including pellicles for
     optical markets).

     3.3  By "DuPont Materials" is meant materials developed by and supplied by
     DuPont to DPI pursuant to this program, and being evaluated in the Field
     pursuant to this Agreement, and any improvements to such materials
     developed by either party under this Agreement.  This definition is not
     intended to cover current commercial amorphous  fluoropolymers sold to DPI
     by DuPont.

     3.4  By "DuPont Technology" hereunder is meant process technology or know-
     how, being evaluated by DPI, in the Field, owned by DuPont.

4.   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     4.1  DuPont shall own any and all inventions, discoveries, processes,
     improvements, ideas and

                                       1
<PAGE>

     like intellectual property relating to DuPont Materials under this
     agreement which are conceived and/or reduced to practice by either party
     during the course of this Agreement (collectively "DuPont Inventions"). In
     addition, DuPont shall own all inventions, discoveries, processes,
     improvements, ideas and like intellectual property that are conceived and
     reduced to practice solely by DuPont during the course of this Agreement,
     except as related to intellectual property covered in 4.2 below.

     4.2  DPI shall own any and all inventions, discoveries, processes,
     improvements, ideas and like intellectual property, that come about after
     the effective date of this Agreement, relating to pellicle end uses, where
     the invention, discovery, process, improvement, or idea is not dependent
     upon DuPont Materials, which are conceived and/or reduced to practice by
     either party during the course of this Agreement (collectively "DPI
     Inventions").  In addition, DPI shall own all inventions, discoveries,
     processes, improvements, ideas and like intellectual property. which are
     conceived and reduced to practice solely by DPI during the course of this
     Agreement, except as related to intellectual property covered in 4.1 above.

     4.3  DPI and DuPont shall jointly own all inventions, discoveries,
     processes, improvements, ideas and like intellectual property, except as
     related to DuPont Materials covered in 4.1 above and DPI Inventions and DPI
     inventions under 4.2, conceived and reduced to practice jointly during the
     course of this Agreement.

     4.4  DuPont shall have full authority, responsibility and discretion to
     prepare, file, prosecute and maintain patent applications and patents on
     inventions covered under subsection 4.1.  DuPont shall also have full
     authority, responsibility and discretion to prepare, file, prosecute and
     maintain any joint DuPont/DPI inventions covered under 4.3.  DPI agrees to
     provide DuPont with access to data and other information reasonably
     necessary for DuPont to prepare, file and prosecute patent applications on
     the Inventions and further agrees to execute such documents as are
     reasonably necessary to establish, transfer or perfect title to DuPont on
     inventions under 4.1 and to DuPont and DPI jointly on inventions under 4.3.

     4.5  DPI shall have full authority, responsibility and discretion to
     prepare, file, prosecute and maintain its sole patent applications and
     patents on inventions under subsection 4.2.  DuPont agrees to provide DPI
     with access to data and other information reasonably necessary for DPI to
     prepare, file and prosecute patent applications on the Inventions and
     further agrees to execute such documents as are reasonably necessary to
     establish, transfer or perfect title to such Inventions to DPI.

     4.6  DuPont grants DPI a royalty bearing, exclusive license (with the right
     to sub-license) for the life of the patents to use, import, export, sell
     and offer to sell, but not to make, any DuPont Materials supplied or
     developed under this Agreement, only in the Field.  DPI shall provide
     DuPont with a first right of refusal to provide DPI with all its
     requirements of DuPont Materials.  If DuPont accepts, DPI shall purchase
     all its requirements of any DuPont Materials under this Agreement from
     DuPont and DuPont shall supply such DuPont Materials to DPI in exchange for
     an agreed upon purchase price, such as is reasonable for such subject
     matter in the trade.  In addition, DPI agrees to pay DuPont a *** royalty,
     based upon the sale price, on the sale of any pellicles made using DuPont
     Materials under this Agreement.  In the event that DuPont is unable or
     unwilling to supply such DuPont Materials to DPI and if DPI desires to make
     such DuPont Materials for itself or have another, mutually agreed upon
     entity make the DuPont Materials for DPI, DPI shall pay to DuPont a ***
     royalty, based upon the sale price, on the sale of pellicles made using
     DuPont Materials.  In such case, DuPont shall make reasonable efforts

                                       2
<PAGE>

     to provide DPI with the necessary know-how to allow DPI or a third party to
     make the DuPont Materials. Should DPI sub-license a third party to utilize
     DuPont Material for use in pellicles, any such license shall include a
     provision such that DuPont gets a *** royalty on pellicle sales from such
     sublicense to a third party and DPI shall collect such royalty from such
     third party sublicensee and transfer such royalty to DuPont. In the case of
     photomasks and photoblanks sold hereunder, containing DuPont Material or
     using DuPont Technology in a non-pellicle application, including DuPont
     Materials sublicensed to a third party, DPI shall pay to DuPont a royalty,
     to be negotiated by the parties, which shall not be in excess of what is
     considered reasonable and customary in the micro-photolithography trade.
     DPI shall collect from such third party sublicensee such royalty and
     transfer same to DuPont.

     4.7  DPI shall have the right to prosecute infringers in the Field, upon
     written notice to DuPont of its intention to do so.  DuPont agrees to
     provide DPI with access to data and other information reasonably necessary
     for such prosecution, provided, however, that under no circumstances will
     DuPont be required to bring any legal action against an infringer, obtain a
     discontinuance of such infringement or bring suit at its own expense
     against an infringer in the Field.

     4.8  DuPont shall make decisions on when, where and whether to file future
     patent applications on inventions under subsections 4.1 and 4.3, after
     consulting with DPI, and shall share with DPI copies of any patent
     application and patent office action and permit DPI to provide its
     comments, where such application is based upon work generated under this
     Agreement.  DPI shall make decisions on when, where and whether to file
     future patent applications on inventions under subsection 4.2, after
     consulting with DuPont, and shall share with DuPont copies of any patent
     applications and patent office actions and permit DuPont to provide its
     comments, where such application is based upon work generated under this
     Agreement. Neither party shall file any patent application using the other
     party's confidential information without the prior written approval of the
     owner of the confidential information.

     4.9  In the event that DuPont elects not to have a patent application filed
     on any invention exclusively licensed to DPI hereunder in the Field or
     decides to discontinue bearing the expenses of prosecution and maintenance
     of any such application or the maintenance of any issued patent, DPI may,
     at its own expense, file, prosecute, and/or maintain any such patent
     application or patent, as the case may be.  Under these conditions
     ownership in the subject matter, as in 4.1 and 4.2, will not change.

     4.10 Should a DuPont Material be viable for use as a 157 nm pellicle, DPI
     agrees to use such DuPont Material commercially.  This obligation shall
     begin once pellicles for use in 157 nm lithography are offered for sale by
     any supplier in the global market.  After that time, in the event that DPI
     and its sub-licensees jointly achieve less than a *** share of the global
     market for 157 nm pellicles, within *** years, or if DPI decides not to use
     or to discontinue its use of DuPont Material for pellicles for any reason,
     other than supply problems from DuPont, the exclusive license to use DuPont
     Material for pellicles will cease and will become a non-exclusive, royalty
     bearing, license, at a royalty of ***, based upon the sale price, without
     the right to sublicense,  to use, import, export, sell and  offer to sell,
     any material covered by any patents hereunder for pellicles.

     4.11 DPI shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to develop and
     sell items made using DuPont Materials within the Field, should DuPont
     materials be useful for particular end uses in the Field.

                                       3
<PAGE>

5.   TERM AND TERMINATION

     5.1  This Agreement and the research program hereunder shall continue from
     January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001.

     5.2  Either Party may immediately terminate this Agreement by notice to the
     other Party in the event that the other Party enters into bankruptcy
     proceedings, becomes insolvent or commits an act of bankruptcy or breaches
     a material provision of this Agreement and does not cure such breach within
     thirty (30) days of notice of the breach.  However, if such breach is
     corrected within the thirty (30) day notice period, and there are no
     unreimbursed damages resulting from the breach, the agreement and licenses
     granted herein shall continue in force.

     5.3  Termination of this Agreement and the aforesaid licenses shall not
     relieve DPI or any sublicensee from the payment of any royalty or from any
     other payment obligation owed hereunder or of any obligation under the
     January 1996 Research, Development and Consulting Agreement.

     5.4  DPI and DuPont shall have the right to extend this Agreement, by
     mutual agreement, for up to two additional years, with at least two months
     prior notice before the end of the term.

6.   COSTS AND PAYMENTS

     6.1  In consideration for the services provided by DuPont hereunder,
     including the staffing as detailed in item 8, DPI shall compensate DuPont
     in the total amount of two million, four hundred and ninety two thousand
     dollars ($2,492,000.00) payable in quarterly installments beginning on
     January 1, 2000 in the amount of $311,500.00 each.  Each installment
     payment shall be due within thirty (30) days of receipt by DPI of an
     invoice from DuPont.  The first payment hereunder shall be due within
     thirty (30) days of the execution of this Agreement.

     6.2  DPI shall also make four quarterly payments of thirty-four thousand,
     five hundred ninety-six dollars ($34,596) each to total $138,384.00 to
     cover Experimental Station VUV-Vase Lease Fee, and shall make six quarterly
     payments of twenty-nine thousand, one hundred sixty-six dollars
     ($29,166.00) to cover material synthesis charges.  DuPont shall not be
     obligated to supply DuPont Material beyond these six quarters for which
     material synthesis has been funded, unless the parties agree on further
     payment for such supply.

     6.3  Any additional blanks, produced by DuPont, may be ordered by DPI at a
     cost of *** each.

     6.4  DPI agrees to pay DuPont, within thirty (30) days after execution of
     this Agreement, the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
     ($250,000.00) to pay for DPI access to DuPont prior work in the field of
     Pellicles.

7.   RELATIONSHIP TO CONSULTING AGREEMENT

     7.1  This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Research
     Development and Consulting Agreement.  To the extent there is a conflict
     between the terms of this Research Project and the terms of the Research
     Development and Consulting Agreement, the terms of this Research Project
     shall control, but only to the extent that they are applicable to the
     Research Project that is the subject matter of this Agreement.

                                       4
<PAGE>

8.   STAFFING FOR THE TERM

     8.1  DuPont shall provide for this project the equivalent of *** full time
     (FTE) scientists and *** FTE technicians.  *** are identified as key
     personnel and are part of the FTE commitment toward this program.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized representatives.

E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS                 DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.
AND COMPANY

By:  /s/George H. Senkler, Jr.          By:  /s/ Paul S. Chipman
     -------------------------               -----------------------------
George H. Senkler, Jr.                  Paul S. Chipman
Director-Materials Sci. & Eng.          Executive Vice President- Technology and
                                        Chief Technology Officer

Date:  April 24, 2000                   Date:  April 21, 2000
       --------------                          --------------

                                       5

                                   Exhibit A
                                   ---------
                                     * * *<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT 10.22

Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a  request for
confidential treatment and such portions have been filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commissions. These portions are designated by the symbol
***.

                            TEFLON(R) AF AGREEMENT

     E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY (hereinafter "DUPONT")

                                      and

     DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC. (hereinafter "DPI")

hereby agree to the following terms and conditions for the supply by DuPont to
DPI of Teflon(R) AF fluoropolymer resins, as specified in EXHIBIT A attached
hereto (hereinafter "Product").

     1.   The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of July 1, 2000 (the
"Effective Date") and shall remain in force through June 30, 2003.  On the first
anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each subsequent anniversary
thereafter, the remaining two-year term will automatically be renewed to three
years, unless either party notifies the other in writing within thirty (30) days
prior to the anniversary that it wishes to terminate the Agreement.  In the
event either party does terminate the Agreement, as described above, the
Agreement shall terminate at the expiration of the remaining period of the term,
subject to Paragraph 3 below.

     2.   DuPont commits to continue to maintain supply to DPI of Product,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein.

     3.   During the term of this Agreement, DPI shall purchase from DuPont 100%
of its requirements of amorphous fluoropolymers for making pellicles for use in
photomasks, except in the event that (1) DPI can demonstrate, in good faith,
that another technology exists that is technologically and commercially feasible
that would allow DPI to manufacture photomask products that are clearly superior
to those made using the Products; (2) DuPont does not fulfill in good faith the
terms of Paragraph 10 or (3) DuPont's price for Product does not remain
competitive.  In the event DPI fails for any reason to buy 100% of its
requirements (of amorphous fluoropolymers for making pellicles) from DuPont
during the term of the Agreement, DuPont shall not be obligated to fulfill the
requirements stated in Paragraphs 4(b), 5(b) and 10 below.

     4.   In the event that DuPont decides to (1) cease manufacture of Product
but not to sell the Teflon(R) AF business or decides to (2) terminate this
Agreement without cause in accordance with Paragraph 1:

          (a) DuPont agrees to grant DPI, for the life of U.S. Patent No.
4,754,009, a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to make or have made and to use
Product in connection with the manufacture of pellicles for photomasks.  This
license would be personal to DPI with no right to sublicense, except in the
event DPI chooses to have Product made by a third party, in which case DPI could
sublicense (to a third party who agrees to be bound by the same terms of
confidentiality that bind DPI) the right to make Product for sale to DPI only.

          (b) DuPont would disclose to DPI under confidentiality agreement
proprietary information, not already disclosed in published DuPont patents,
necessary for DPI to practice the art of making Product, as currently practiced
by DuPont, in all substantial respects, for sales of Product to DPI.  DPI is
prohibited from using any DuPont Confidential

                                       1
<PAGE>

Information disclosed hereunder for any purpose other than making Product for
use in the manufacture of pellicles for photomasks, and any sublicense granted
by DPI will contain a prohibition against the sublicensee using such information
for any purpose other than supplying Product to DPI for this purpose.

          (c) In addition to this license, DuPont would give DPI the opportunity
to make a bulk purchase of Product equivalent in volume to what DPI would have
purchased during the remaining term of the Agreement based on historical annual
usage.  For this purpose, a year's worth of product would be determined by
averaging annual quantities purchased by DPI during the *** prior to DuPont's
notice, and adding ***.  DPI must notify DuPont in writing that it wishes to
exercise this option within thirty (30) days of receiving DuPont's notice of its
intent to exit the Teflon(R) AF business.

     5. In the event that DuPont decides to sell the Teflon(R) AF business:

          (a) DPI shall have a right of first refusal to negotiate with DuPont
in good faith for the purchase of the business. In the event DuPont and DPI are
unable to reach agreement and DuPont sells the business to a third party, DuPont
agrees to grant DPI, for the life of U.S. Patent No. 4,754,009, a non-exclusive,
royalty-free license to make or have made and to use Product in connection with
the manufacture of pellicles for photomasks. This license would be personal to
DPI with no right to sublicense, except in the event DPI chooses to have Product
made by a third party, in which case DPI could sublicense the right (to a third
party who agrees to be bound by the same terms of confidentiality that bind DPI)
to make Product for sale to DPI only.

          (b) DuPont would disclose to DPI under confidentiality agreement
proprietary information, not already disclosed in published DuPont patents,
necessary for DPI to practice the art of making Product, as currently practiced
by DuPont, in all substantial respects, for sales of Product to DPI. DPI is
prohibited from using any DuPont Confidential Information disclosed hereunder
for any purpose other than making Product for use in the manufacture of
pellicles for photomasks, and any sublicense granted by DPI will contain a
prohibition against the sublicensee using such information for any purpose other
than supplying Product to DPI for this purpose.

          (c) DPI's licensing right under this Paragraph 4 is expressly
conditioned on DPI's promptly notifying DuPont of its interest in exercising
this right, once the parties concur that no sale to DPI can be agreed upon, and
confirming its desire to exercise this right in writing within sixty (60) days
thereafter. If DPI chooses to exercise its right, any purchaser of the Teflon(R)
AF business would buy subject to DPI's non-exclusive license.

     6.   DuPont agrees to provide Product at a price of *** for the first
twenty-four months of this Agreement (to include existing September 1999 price
increase pre-buy amount ***).  Pricing for subsequent years is subject to
negotiation.

     7.   DuPont agrees to provide a safety stock of Product in Danbury
sufficient to support 3 months' worth of pellicle manufacture based on
historical usage patterns over the prior twelve (12) months.

     8.   DuPont agrees to demonstrate reasonable efforts to assist DPI in the
development of Product suitable for 193nm photomask applications,  such efforts
to proceed simultaneously with production of Product for standard DPI product
needs at 193nm and 248nm, and to participate in semi-annual technical reviews in
which the results of development activity are discussed.  These commitments are
not intended to supersede any pre-existing agreements DuPont has with DPI
regarding development work in the subject areas.

     9.   DuPont agrees that any improvements to Product resulting from the
development plan in Paragraph 8 will be made available to DPI on mutually
agreeable terms.  The terms will be consistent with the scope and importance of
the development work described in Paragraph 8.

     10. DuPont agrees that the Teflon(R) AF business group will undertake good
faith efforts to improve process quality management for the Teflon(R) AF
business.  The parties will meet and confer on a  mutually acceptable basis to
discuss progress toward this goal.  In addition, in the event DuPont experiences
production problems that significantly

                                       2
<PAGE>

affect the quality of Product or the delivery of such Product to DPI,
representatives of the parties will meet and confer to discuss corrective
action. If a course of corrective action cannot be agreed upon or if a course is
agreed upon but is ineffective, representatives of senior management for DPI and
DuPont Fluoropolymers will promptly confer to discuss a resolution.

     11.  Terms of sale of Product hereunder shall be F.O.B. DPI's Danbury
manufacturing facility.

     12.  Terms of payment on Product sold hereunder shall be net thirty (30)
days from date of invoice.  DuPont reserves the right to impose a late payment
service charge at a lawful rate on invoices not paid when due.

     13.  Except as expressly set forth herein, the conditions of sale for sales
of Product hereunder shall be as set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code.

     14.  This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware. The federal and state courts located in the
State of Delaware shall have exclusive jurisdiction of any dispute arising under
this Agreement.

     15.  All notices required hereunder shall be sent by certified first class
mail, or by facsimile, to the party to be notified at its following address or
at such other address as shall have been specified in written notice from the
party to be notified. The sending party shall be responsible for confirming
receipt of the notice. If to "DuPont," addressed to:

Business Manager -Teflon(R) AF
P.O. Box 80702
Wilmington, Delaware l9880-0702
facsimile (302) 999-3780

or, if to "DPI," addressed to:

DuPont Photomasks, Inc.
Business Director--Pellicles
4 Finance Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06810

All notices hereunder shall be effective upon date of initial receipt.

     16.  Except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence of this
paragraph, neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation in this Agreement
may be assigned by either party, without the prior written consent of the other.
In the event that either the pellicles business unit of DPI or DuPont's
Teflon(R) AF business is transferred or sold to another corporate entity, this
Agreement shall be assigned to the new affiliate or purchaser without consent of
the other party unless the contemplated sale or transfer is to a competitor of
the other party.

     17.  Failure by either party to require strict performance of this
Agreement shall not be a waiver of a party's right subsequently to require such
strict performance.

     18.  No change or modification of this Agreement will bind the parties
unless it is in writing and signed by their respective authorized
representatives.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     19.  In consideration of the promises stated herein, DPI hereby releases
and discharges DuPont and its employees, officers, directors, shareholders,
legal representatives, agents, assigns, attorneys, insurers, successors,
subsidiary corporations, and affiliated companies including joint ventures (and
their employees, officers, directors, agents, assigns and legal representatives)
from any and all other or further claims which it may or might have against
DuPont arising out of or relating to its disputed claims regarding a prior
agreement with DuPont for exclusive license to use Teflon(R) AF in the
manufacture of pellicles for photomasks.

     20.  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between
DuPont and DPI relative to the subject matter hereof, except as noted herein,
and there are no understandings, agreements, conditions or representations, oral
or written, expressed or implied, with reference to the subject matter hereof
that are not merged or superseded hereby. No amendment, modification or release
from any provision hereof shall be of any force or effect unless it is in
writing, signed by the party claimed to be bound thereby, and specifically
refers to this Agreement.

E.I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY     DUPONT PHOTOMASKS, INC.

By: /s/ Timothy P. McCann              By: /s/ John M. Lynn
    ---------------------                  ---------------------

Print: Timothy P. McCann               Print: John M. Lynn
       ------------------                     ------------------

Title: Global Business Director        Title: Executive Vice President, General
       ------------------------               ---------------------------------
                                              Counsel
                                              --------

Date: June 22, 2000                    Date: June 20, 2000
      -------------                          -------------

                                   EXHIBIT A

Teflon (R) AF 1601 resin

                                       4

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}]]