Soitec, SK Innovation to Collaborate On Advanced Semiconductor Materials
Soitec and SK Innovation (SKI), have signed a Collaboration Agreement (CA) to establish a strategic alliance focused on accelerating innovation in the area of semiconductor materials for information communication technologies and internet-of-things applications. The collaborative partnership will build on the synergy between the companies.
At the outset, the alliance will focus on innovating engineered substrates and the processes for fabricating these materials. The partners' joint goal is to bring the first products to market by early 2017 in applications. These breakthrough products will allow Soitec to grow its global market presence.
SKI brings to the partnership extensive application knowledge and a diverse market presence, as well as the strength of the much diversified SK Group, which operates the leading telecom company and semiconductor company in Korea. Soitec contributes its business expertise, extensive patent portfolio, and global knowledge & infrastructure in mass producing products for the semiconductor markets.
"Our partnership gives SK Innovation and Soitec the power to develop new materials and very quickly bring innovations to market," said Carlos Mazure, Soitec's chief technical officer. "This is a very important first step for Soitec as we team up with Korea's leader in energy and materials development to leverage our two companies' strong synergies."
"This alliance is in line with SKI's road map towards new business opportunities in inorganic materials and fits well withSK Group's strengths," said Byong-sung Kwak, president of Global Technology and chief technical officer of SK Innovation. "Because our company seeks to achieve its mission of becoming a truly innovative technology-driven company by fostering a corporate culture that values the spirit of challenge, creativity, and a positive attitude, and building the creative facilities necessary to support this culture, our alliance is well-equipped to succeed in high-growth markets, such as energy and semiconductor materials."
Although the first phase of the agreement targets semiconductor materials development, the alliance could be extended to include manufacturing and commercial development.
