Semiconductor today

Canadian mineral exploration company Quantum Critical Metals Corp and Nusano Inc of Valencia, CA, USA (a privately held physics-based technology company specializing in advanced mass-separation processes) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and refining of critical minerals in North America. The partnership aims to strengthen supply chains for US and Canadian industries by bringing high-purity mineral processing back to North American soil. Most refining of critical minerals currently occurs overseas. This dependence leaves North America vulnerable to geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions...

Canadian mineral exploration company Quantum Critical Metals Corp and Nusano Inc of Valencia, CA, USA (a privately held physics-based technology company specializing in advanced mass-separation processes) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and refining of critical minerals in North America. The partnership aims to strengthen supply chains for US and Canadian industries by bringing high-purity mineral processing back to North American soil. Most refining of critical minerals currently occurs overseas. This dependence leaves North America vulnerable to geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions...

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 – says that its ultraviolet LEDs effectively inactivate multiple H5N1 avian influenza virus strains within seconds, according to recent research by scientists at the University of Siena. The research showed strong viral reduction of up to 99.999% with Silanna’s 235nm far-ultraviolet C (UVC) LEDs, which support applications in public health protection, pandemic preparedness, and agricultural biosecurity...

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 – says that its ultraviolet LEDs effectively inactivate multiple H5N1 avian influenza virus strains within seconds, according to recent research by scientists at the University of Siena. The research showed strong viral reduction of up to 99.999% with Silanna’s 235nm far-ultraviolet C (UVC) LEDs, which support applications in public health protection, pandemic preparedness, and agricultural biosecurity...

NcodiN of Palaiseau, Paris, France (which was founded in 2023 to pioneer optical interposer technology with integrated nanolasers for next-generation computing) has secured €16m in an oversubscribed seed financing round...

During the CxO Executive Summit at SEMICON Europa 2025 in Munich, Germany (18–21 November), Professor Owen Guy (head of Chemistry at Swansea University) has been honoured with the SEMI Academia Impact Award, recognizing his “outstanding contributions to semiconductor research, innovation and industry-academia collaboration in Europe”...

Four researchers at the University of Waterloo have been awarded $3.95m in funding to support their research as part of the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program...

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Teddington, UK has been appointed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to lead a £1.2m Government-funded project to establish new metrology capabilities that will strengthen the UK’s semiconductor innovation infrastructure. The strategic investment aims to accelerate the UK’s role in developing next-generation semiconductor materials and processes, helping to attract private investment and boost economic growth in the sector...

On 13 November, over 100 industry leaders, researchers, policymakers and educators gathered in Cardiff to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of CSconnected, the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster. This included reflections from founding figures, recognition of ‘Cluster Champions’, and a keynote address from Jack Sargeant MS, Wales’ Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, whose portfolio aligns with the cluster’s focus on talent pipelines and skills development...

A laboratory upgrade at Cornell University will help to forge new directions for nitride semiconductors by expanding their capabilities to support technologies such as quantum computers and next-generation radio-frequency and power devices...

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment and solutions firm Beneq of Espoo, Finland has introduced the Transform XP, a second-generation ALD platform developed to meet the performance demands of wide-bandgap (WBG) power and RF device technology development and manufacturing. Building on the proven Transform platform, the new system adds advanced ALD control, faster cycle times, and greater process capabilities in a high-throughput format...

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment and solutions firm Beneq of Espoo, Finland has introduced the Transform XP, a second-generation ALD platform developed to meet the performance demands of wide-bandgap (WBG) power and RF device technology development and manufacturing. Building on the proven Transform platform, the new system adds advanced ALD control, faster cycle times, and greater process capabilities in a high-throughput format...

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment and solutions firm Beneq of Espoo, Finland has launched Transmute, a next-generation ALD platform designed for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. Engineered for high volume production of wide-bandgap (WBG) power electronics, advanced RF devices, and micro-LEDs and other specialty devices, the new systemcombines performance, scalability and cost efficiency in one system...

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment and solutions firm Beneq of Espoo, Finland has launched Transmute, a next-generation ALD platform designed for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. Engineered for high volume production of wide-bandgap (WBG) power electronics, advanced RF devices, and micro-LEDs and other specialty devices, the new systemcombines performance, scalability and cost efficiency in one system...

STMicroelectronics of Geneva, Switzerland has unveiled new smart power components that let home appliances and industrial drives leverage the latest gallium nitride (GaN) technology to boost energy efficiency, increase performance, and save cost...

PowerAmerica — a public–private research initiative established in 2014 as the US Department of Energy (DOE)’s first Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute — has issued a request for proposals for projects lasting up to 24 months, focused on the development of advanced wide-bandgap power semiconductor technologies, power electronics assemblies, and packaging and manufacturing processes with the potential to improve performance and lower cost...

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA has inaugurated its new fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The $1.1bn facility, which spans about 2.4 million square feet and is about 11 times the size of the New Orleans Superdome, currently employs over 700 people and is expected to have 826 staff by the end of the year...

The US Department of War has awarded $29.9m via Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ElementUSA Inc of Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA to enable the development of a demonstration facility in Gramercy, Louisiana for extracting gallium and scandium from existing industrial waste...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA — which was founded in 2015 and developed and previously manufactured high-power industrial blue lasers — has executed the €2m first tranche of financial support for Tekne S.p.A. (a provider of integrated electronic warfare and cyber capabilities in military vehicles), following the updated Tekne agreement announced 12 November...

Photonic simulation CAD software developer Photon Design Ltd of Oxford, UK has provided laser design and simulation training on the JePPIX ‘PIC Design Course’ 2025, held at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU Eindhoven) on 27 October to 7 November...