➀ The Chips and Science Act allocates $11 billion for semiconductor R&D; ➁ The program targets five areas including advanced packaging and AI-driven design; ➂ Companies should apply now for funding opportunities.
Recent #R&D news in the semiconductor industry
Strathclyde University has received £9 million from Innovate UK to pursue semiconductor packaging R&D.
The goal is to create an advanced packaging line for power electronic semiconductors that will reduce packaging times from months to days.
Global material shortages, limited manufacturing capacity, and a lack of innovation facilities have left the UK supply chain dependent on international markets for key components, leading to long delays.
Several startups, including Factorial Energy, QuantumScape, and SES AI, are advancing to the sample delivery and pilot runs for semi-solid or quasi-solid-state batteries. These first-generation products are expected to enter mass production next year. Despite technical barriers, semi-solid or quasi-solid-state batteries, with a small amount of liquid electrolyte, are seen as interim options for U.S. and European automakers.
17 U.S. and European solid-state battery companies have raised over $4.2 billion in funding. Supported by programs like the US Department of Energy and the EU’s Horizon Europe initiative, some companies are already conducting vehicle integration tests with automakers.
US and European manufacturers are focusing on polymer-based or oxide-based solid electrolytes as their core technologies.
➀ ASML and imec have signed a new strategic partnership agreement, focusing on research and sustainability.
➁ The agreement aims to deliver valuable solutions in two areas: advancing the semiconductor industry and developing sustainable innovation initiatives.
➂ The collaboration includes ASML's full product portfolio, focusing on high-end nodes and advanced technologies.
➀ Leonardo highlighted increased employment at its UK sites, with 1,400 new hires in 2024, including 450 in early careers schemes.
➁ The company reported significant growth in orders, revenues, and EBITA over the last 12 months.
➂ Leonardo emphasized its role in the global Aerospace, Defense, and Security industry, with a focus on sustainability and young talent attraction.
➀ TechWorks outlines a five-point plan to enhance the UK's semiconductor industry; ➁ The plan includes growing globally competitive chip companies, scaling up manufacturing, investing in talent development, creating a national semiconductor institute, and enhancing domestic demand; ➂ Challenges include global competition and financial gaps, but the plan aims to position the UK as a leader in the global technology landscape.
➀ AMD is set to lay off 1000 employees, representing 4% of its global workforce, to concentrate on AI ICs; ➁ The company reported a 18% year-over-year revenue increase and a 158% profit increase in Q3 2024; ➂ AMD's data center sales doubled while gaming chips fell by 69% and PC chips rose by 29%; ➃ AMD's latest accelerator chip, MI325X, is expected to start mass production in the current quarter.
➀ Huawei is establishing a $1.4 billion R&D center at Lianqui Lake outside Shanghai to attract global research talent; ➁ The center is expected to have 30,000 researchers by the end of next year, with many from overseas; ➂ Huawei plans to create a welcoming environment with over 100 cafes and a train station, aiming to offer competitive salaries to attract foreign researchers.
➀ Intel plans to cut several hundred jobs at its Israeli R&D centers; ➁ The layoffs are part of Intel's cost-cutting efforts; ➂ Employees are leaving for Nvidia and other tech companies.
➀ Phison Electronics has significantly increased its R&D expenditure from less than 1 billion to over 3 billion per quarter. ➁ The R&D expense ratio has also risen from under 5% to over 20% of revenue, indicating a substantial shift towards R&D-focused operations. ➂ This transformation reduces the company's vulnerability to cyclical fluctuations in consumer products, enhancing its long-term competitiveness.
➀ IBM announced the closure of its China-based R&D facilities, affecting over 1,000 employees. ➁ The decision was attributed to the declining infrastructure business, not geopolitical tensions. ➂ The closure reflects IBM's decreasing revenue in China despite global growth.
➀ AMD is discussing with the Taiwan government to set up two new R&D centers in Tainan and Kaohsiung. ➁ The investment amounts to $270 million, with additional support from the Taiwanese government. ➂ The centers will focus on AI, silicon photonics, and heterogeneous integration, employing around 400 people.
1. Quantum Transistors, based in Tel Aviv, has received up to €17.5 million from the European Innovation Council (EIC). 2. The funding includes an initial grant of €2.5 million and a future equity investment of €15 million. 3. The company plans to use the investment to scale up its R&D and expand its team, focusing on developing an integrated universal quantum processor on a single chip using native photonics.
❶ Intel has paused significant investment projects in France and Italy due to financial constraints, redirecting focus to ongoing projects in Ireland, Germany, and Poland. ❷ The planned R&D hub in France for AI and HPC is on hold, and a proposed €4.5 billion manufacturing plant in Italy has been shelved. ❸ Despite these setbacks, Intel continues to push forward with advanced fab construction in Germany and an advanced packaging facility in Poland.
1. The U.S. Department of Commerce is allocating $1.6 billion for semiconductor advanced packaging R&D to boost domestic capacity. 2. The funding will focus on five key areas: equipment, power delivery, connector technology, chiplets ecosystem, and co-design/EDA. 3. Approximately $150 million awards will be given in each area, encouraging private sector investments.
❶ Huawei has officially opened its Lianqiu Lake R&D Center in Shanghai, a facility covering 2,600 acres and designed to house over 35,000 scientists and engineers. ❷ The center, which cost over $1.4 billion to build, is part of Huawei's strategy to consolidate its R&D efforts and streamline operations amidst U.S. sanctions. ❸ The project, inspired by the Chicago Lakeside Complex, aims to attract top talent and strengthen Huawei's position in future technologies.
❶ The US government has announced the first recipients of the CHIPS and Science Act funding, awarding $300 million to three R&D facilities. ❷ These facilities include an NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility, an NSTC Administrative and Design Facility, and an NSTC Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Center. ❸ The funding aims to bridge the gap between research and industry, revitalizing semiconductor R&D and addressing critical gaps in the current ecosystem.