Established in late 2003, I think, basically to put all (ok, pehaps not "all") semiconducting strategy and production under one management division. SCE's semiconducting division was rolled in, as well as Kyushu and other divisions.
I'm not sure as to the full extent--and how much they are a real department rather than a naming convention for ones that haven't really changed much yet--but I'm sure archie or others can explain better. ^_^
