Imec will transfer its low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) silicon nitride (SiN) manufacturing process to Enschede-based integrated-photonics foundry New Origin, which will manufacture the technology on 200mm wafers. The newfound partners will also continue developing the platform and add new materials and process steps over time.
SiN is a flavor within the integrated-photonics family that stands out for its low light losses and broad spectral range, rendering it attractive for sensing, datacom and quantum applications. Within SiN, there are different options to choose from. For example, Enschede-based Lionix offers a SiN process (technically, a SiN/SiO2 stack) that’s optimized for a different subset of applications than Imec’s. New Origin is also partnering with Lionix, the foundry confirmed to Bits&Chips.
New Origin is aiming to start manufacturing operations in 2027, ultimately targeting an output of 50,000 wafers per year. It has secured the foundation of seed funding, but it still needs some additional investment.
