Semiconductor today

Due to “high demand and requests from several participants”, there has been an extension to 17 March (14:00 Norwegian time) of the auction (begun on 28 February) of the assets of CrayoNano AS of Trondheim, Norway — a developer and manufacturer of semiconductor components, including UVC-LEDs, based on patented and proprietary nanomaterials technology, until its bankruptcy in January...

Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc (5N+) of Montreal, Québec, Canada has entered into an exclusive agreement (through its subsidiary AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH of Heilbronn, Germany) with ALLOS Semiconductors GmbH of Dresden, Germany — which provides 200mm and 300mm GaN-on-silicon micro-LED epiwafers, as well as licensing IP and transferring the technology — to complete the development and commercialization of a gallium nitride (GaN) IP portfolio that 5N+ has provided to ALLOS Semiconductors for a nominal value in exchange for future royalties...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA — which was founded in 2015 and develops and manufactures high-power industrial blue lasers — has announced a strategic partnership with artificial intelligence and robotics solutions provider COEPTIS Inc’s NexGenAI Affiliates Network (an AI-powered affiliate marketing platform designed to streamline marketing efforts through automation and advanced analytics). The collaboration is a pivotal component of NUBURU’s transformation plan, spearheaded by executive chairman Alessandro Zamboni, which aims to enhance operational efficiency and revamp the company’s business model...

Luminus Devices Inc of Sunnyvale, CA, USA — which designs and makes LEDs and solid-state technology (SST) light sources for illumination markets — has released its Generation 2 warm dimming COB (chip on board) LEDs, engineered to deliver an lighting that mimics the warm glow of traditional incandescent and halogen sources while offering the efficiency and reliability of LED technology...

Japan-based ROHM Co Ltd says that its EcoGaN series of 650V GaN HEMTs in the TOLL package has been adopted by Murata Manufacturing Group subsidiary Murata Power Solutions (a Japan-based supplier of electronic components, batteries and power supplies) for AI server power supplies that will enter mass production this year. ROHM says that integrating its GaN HEMTs (which combine low-loss operation with high-speed switching performance) in Murata’s 5.5kW AI server power supply unit achieves greater efficiency and miniaturization...

k-Space Associates Inc of Dexter, MI, USA — which was founded in 1992 and produces thin-film metrology instrumentation and software for research and manufacturing of microelectronic, optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices — has introduced kSA RHEED-Sim as its new reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) simulation software. Suitable for both researchers and students, simulation possibilities range from basic simulated RHEED patterns of common structures to complex patterns produced by reconstructions or complex surfaces, and even dynamic simulations with changing phenomena...

According to the new market & technology report ‘Status of the Compound Semiconductor Device Industry’ from market analyst firm Yole Group, the compound semiconductor device market is growing rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 13% from 2024 to about $25bn by 2030, outpacing the broader semiconductor market...

Altum RF of Eindhoven, The Netherlands (which designs RF, microwave and millimeter-wave semiconductors) has expanded the scope of its ISO 9001:2015 registration for its quality management system. In addition to its headquarters in Eindhoven, Altum RF’s design center in Sydney, Australia, has now also achieved ISO 9001 certification, underscoring the company’s commitment to “delivering high-quality, reliable and high-performance semiconductor products while maintaining excellence across design, development, manufacturing and sales processes”...

Japan-based ROHM Co Ltd has developed the GNP2070TD-Z 650V GaN HEMTs in the TOLL (TO-LeadLess) package. Featuring a compact design with excellent heat dissipation, high current capacity and superior switching performance, the TOLL package is increasingly being adopted in applications that require high power handling, particularly inside industrial equipment and automotive systems. For this launch, package manufacturing has been contracted to outsourced semiconductor assembly & test (OSAT) provider ATX Semiconductor (Weihai) Co Ltd in Shandong Province, China...

Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult has welcomed members of the UK government’s cabinet to its Innovation Centre in Newport...

Representing a step in its evolution from a technology-driven company to a product-driven company, Finwave Semiconductor Inc of Waltham, MA, USA has strengthened its commitment to addressing the increasingly demanding wireless communication landscape by signing a global distribution agreement with RFMW...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA — which was founded in 2015 and develops and manufactures high-power industrial blue lasers — and HUMBL Inc, a strategic holding company with a focus on Brazil, have executed a $2m equity swap agreement and strategic partnership designed to accelerate both companies’ growth strategies and deliver immediate value to shareholders...

For its fiscal second-quarter 2025 (ended 28 December 2024), Lumentum Holdings Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which designs and makes optical and photonic products for optical networks and lasers for industrial and consumer markets) has reported revenue of $402.2m. This is up 19.4% on $336.9m last quarter and 9.7% on $366.8m a year ago, and exceeds the $380–400m guidance range. Growth is being driven by strong demand from cloud customers, particularly in data-center interconnect and networking end-markets...

For coverage of all the key business and technology developments in compound semiconductors and advanced silicon materials and devices over the last month...

Deposition equipment maker Aixtron SE in Herzogenrath, near Aachen, Germany has announced Alexander Everke, who has been a member of its Supervisory Board since May 2024, as the successor to the Supervisory Board chairmanship. Existing chairman Kim Schindelhauer will resign from the position at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on 15 May, when Aixtron will also propose the election of Ingo Bank as a new member of the Supervisory Board...

Penn State University aims to enhance its R&D capabilities in next-generation semiconductor technology thanks to $4.3m in infrastructure funding and in-kind support through its membership of the Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MMEC), of which Penn State is a charter member...

Mining firm Nimy Resources Ltd of Perth, Western Australia says that it is on track to establish a maiden JORC (Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee) resource at its Western Australia gallium discovery after raising $1.15m from professional and otherwise exempt investors...

Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd of Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland — which was founded in 2017 and the UK’s only commercial wafer fabrication facility dedicated to silicon carbide (SiC) — has secured a £12m inward investment from Archean Chemical Industries of Chennai, India. In return for the equity investment, Archean will gain representation on Clas-SiC’s board of directors, with Ranjit Pendurthi appointed as a director...

Silanna UV of Brisbane, Australia – which provides far-UVC light sources for water quality sensors, gas sensors, disinfection, and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) applications – has launched the NozzleShield UV water dispenser disinfection application. The technology uses 235nm-wavelength UV-C LEDs to rapidly disinfect water dispensers, effectively eliminating bacteria and virus buildup. This ensures that water dispensers remain free from harmful bacteria, benefiting companies aiming to enhance their product features...

Aeluma Inc of Goleta, CA, USA – which uses compound semiconductor materials on large-diameter substrates to develop technologies for mobile, automotive, AI, defense & aerospace, communication and quantum computing – has appointed finance executive Mike Byron to its board of directors...