
Hoping to make micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) applications a better revenue stream for TowerJazz, the specialty foundry has touted a technology partnership with Institute of Microelectronics (IME) of Singapore. The institute is known for gelling fabless or fab-lite companies with R&D programs that can quickly transition to foundries for prototyping and possible production.
“IME’s capabilities and experience as an 8-inch (200mm) technology development site for MEMS and ASICs, combined with TowerJazz’s blend of business and technical competency for MEMS and IC fabrication, creates an advantage for our customers by reducing total project cost and time-to-market,” said Zmira Lavie, VP, Process Engineering R&D and GM of Transfer, Development, and Optimization Process Services Business Unit.
TowerJazz said that the collaboration had already yielded ‘outcomes in the areas of inertial sensors, pressure sensors and micromirrors with MEMS product companies,’ without given specific examples.
In the future, TowerJazz claimed that future collaborations could include through-silicon via (TSV) and advanced packaging, 3-dimensional integrated chips, photonics and nanoelectronics.