Sofinnova Partners has led a €10.6 million financing in Accent, STMicroelectronics and Cadence Design Systems joint venture company. The investment follows STMicroelectronics’ decision to divest its majority shareholding in Accent as outlined in its 2005 plan to focus its attention on its core businesses and markets. The Italian Private Equity firm CAPE Natexis and a group of business angels have also participated in this financing.

Commenting on behalf of Sofinnova Partners, Jean Schmitt, Managing Partner said: “We believe Accent has a major role to play as a global microelectronics product design and realization company, especially as semiconductor technologies increasingly feature in everyday products from consumer to automotive, from healthcare to security and from industrial control to home automation. Accent is perfectly placed to act as a product design partner for large companies as well as the intermediary between semiconductor fabs and clients as companies look for one-stop-shop suppliers.”

Marco Vismara, CEO of Cape Natexis, said: "The presence of a team of financial investors will give Accent's management team the financial support and the additional skills needed to further develop the company based on continuous innovation and an increased presence at a global level."


“We are extremely delighted to receive this financing round led by Sofinnova Partners,” said Massimo Vanzi, Accent's CEO. “This investment will allow Accent to aggressively pursue its strategic development plans including scaling up its global sales operations by opening new offices in Europe and overseas as well as expand into cost-effective areas such as Eastern Europe, China and Singapore. Having benefited considerably from the depth of experience of our two founding companies, we are completely enthused by the prospect of developing Accent as a truly independent player in the product design and realization services market.”

AngelTech Live III: Join us on 12 April 2021!

AngelTech Live III will be broadcast on 12 April 2021, 10am BST, rebroadcast on 14 April (10am CTT) and 16 April (10am PST) and will feature online versions of the market-leading physical events: CS International and PIC International PLUS a brand new Silicon Semiconductor International Track!

Thanks to the great diversity of the semiconductor industry, we are always chasing new markets and developing a range of exciting technologies.

2021 is no different. Over the last few months interest in deep-UV LEDs has rocketed, due to its capability to disinfect and sanitise areas and combat Covid-19. We shall consider a roadmap for this device, along with technologies for boosting its output.

We shall also look at microLEDs, a display with many wonderful attributes, identifying processes for handling the mass transfer of tiny emitters that hold the key to commercialisation of this technology.

We shall also discuss electrification of transportation, underpinned by wide bandgap power electronics and supported by blue lasers that are ideal for processing copper.

Additional areas we will cover include the development of GaN ICs, to improve the reach of power electronics; the great strides that have been made with gallium oxide; and a look at new materials, such as cubic GaN and AlScN.

Having attracted 1500 delegates over the last 2 online summits, the 3rd event promises to be even bigger and better – with 3 interactive sessions over 1 day and will once again prove to be a key event across the semiconductor and photonic integrated circuits calendar.

So make sure you sign up today and discover the latest cutting edge developments across the compound semiconductor and integrated photonics value chain.

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