GlobalFoundries (GF) just snagged an additional $9.5 million from the U.S. government, propelling its push toward mass-producing gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors.
The funding will be used to develop full-scale manufacturing of GaN chips at GF’s Essex Junction, Vermont fab.
The funding will allow GF to continue to add new tools, equipment and prototyping capabilities to its GaN intellectual property portfolio. Additionally, it will move GF closer to full-scale manufacturing of its 200 mm GaN chips at the Vermont fab.
Since 2020, GF has received more than $80 million from the U.S. government. This funding has been used to:
- Support R&D
- Support advancements in process technology
- Expand full-scale GaN chip manufacturing
The Vermont fab has been a hub for the GaN program from GF and the center for its 200 mm semiconductor GaN manufacturing. Earlier this year, GF acquired Tagore Technology’s wide bandgap portfolio to expand its GaN platform.
GF also formed an agreement in September for development and licensing with Finwave Semiconductor where the Finwave’s GaN on silicon technology will be merged with GF’s high volume manufacturing capabilities and radio frequency (RF) technology such as its RF silicon-on-insulator and silicon-germanium foundry services.
What are wide bandgap chips?
Wide bandgap materials like GaN and SiC are key semiconductor types that are used to provide more efficient power for these applications that are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. These devices are in high demand due to their inclusion in hot sectors like electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, consumer electronics and artificial intelligence (AI). While EVs are slowing in sales, they are not expected to go away, and these chips will be increasingly used as the main semiconductors in these vehicles.
Additionally, GlobalFoundries was awarded $1.5 billion in direct funding through the CHIPS and Science Act that the company will use to enable high-volume manufacturing of technologies like GaN as well as expand its Malta, New York, fab, supporting the construction of a new state-of-the-art fab at the Malta campus.
