The present invention provides a manufacturing method for an integrated
semiconductor structure comprising the steps of: providing a
semiconductor substrate having a plurality of gate stacks in a first
region and at least one gate stack in a second region; forming a
sacrificial plug made of a first material surrounded by an isolation
layer between two adjacent gate stacks in the first region; depositing a
planarisation layer over said plurality of gate stacks in said first
region and said at least one gate stack in said second region;
backpolishing said planarisation layer such that the upper surface of
said sacrificial plug is exposed; forming a structured hardmask layer
made of said first material on said backpolished planarisation layer
which structured hardmask layer adjoins said sacrificial plug and has at
least one opening in said second region; forming at least one contact
hole in said second region under said at least one opening in said second
region, said at least one contact hole exposing a substrate contact area
adjacent to said gate stack in said second region or a contact area in
said gate stack; selectively removing said hardmask layer and said
sacrificial plug in a single etch step, whereby another contact hole is
formed between two adjacent gate stacks in said first region; removing
said isolation layer on the bottom of said another contact hole such that
the substrate is exposed; and filling said contact hole and said another
contact hole with a respective contact plug.