Fact Sheet
Overview
SVTC Technologies provides access to two full-scale development foundries where customers can develop their solutions on silicon with a full complement of advanced CMOS and MEMS equipment, and where they can take advantage of SVTC's development support, analytical and commercialization services. Through superior cycle times, cost-effective development and faster time to revenue, SVTC delivers operational excellence and accelerates the commercialization of innovative technologies into solutions for rapidly growing markets such as novel memory, novel transistors, logic, MEMS/MOEMS, photovoltaics, biotechnology, image sensors and high-voltage applications.
History
In July of 2004, Cypress Semiconductor opened Silicon Valley Technology Center (SVTC), the precursor to SVTC Technologies. SVTC became an independent company, SVTC Technologies, in March 2007 when it was purchased by two premier financial investors: Tallwood Venture Capital and Oak Hill Capital Partners. In 2007, SVTC merged with SEMATECH's Advanced Technology Development Facility (ATDF), effectively doubling its capabilities and services. In June 2008, SVTC launched its SVTC Solar business unit, taking SVTC's successful business model for the semiconductor industry and optimizing it for the development of photovoltaic (i.e., solar cell) products.
Market opportunity
A number of market trends have created the need for an independent development foundry.
- Fabless technology companies are focused on research and chip design and typically outsource prototyping, pilot production, high-volume manufacturing, chip packaging, and test and assembly. A decades-long shift toward fabless models has been accelerating, with fabless technology companies growing at 21% CAGR.
- There is a growing demand from companies working on novel technologies, from nanotechnology and MEMS to photovoltaic solutions, with an expected 35% to 70% annual growth rate. These companies have different needs from traditional semiconductor companies. They require process differentiation to realize more and new functionality on silicon or other substrates, and their differentiated process technologies means they need more than simple tape-out using established design rules before entering production. At the same time, they are also looking to leverage the proven CMOS infrastructure to achieve better integration, economies of scale and a faster path to commercialization.
- Current high-volume foundries are cautious about accepting R&D work for novel technologies, which are not yet in high volume and require very special equipment and services.
- University and consortium-based development environments do an excellent job of serving research and early development, but their essential openness can be problematic in cases where specific process IP is crucial to the developer's future value. They also are not optimized for delivering the operational excellence required for faster time to revenue.
- Fabless companies developing novel technologies are looking for:
- A dedicated process development foundry
- Independence, along with specific systems and procedures that can guarantee customer IP protection
- Access to a full complement of CMOS and MEMS process tools and starting recipes
- Proven process recipes under SPC control
- Services, expertise and partnerships that enable a smooth, efficient transfer to volume manufacturing
SVTC's model
With its focus on novel process development, SVTC is in a unique position to capture significant market share and leadership. SVTC provides an environment where customers develop their own products on silicon or utilize SVTC engineers and experts to do the development. With access to full-scale 8-inch and BEOL 12-inch development foundries, SVTC customers leverage a full complement of advanced fabrication equipment and can take advantage of SVTC's development, analytical and commercialization services. No other process development foundry can offer SVTC's superior cycle times, cost-effective development and fast time to revenue.
SVTC's offerings
SVTC maintains two state-of-the-art development foundries, which operate 24x7. Here, qualified customers can develop their processes and products on silicon, in an IP-secure environment.
Additional services offered include:
- Development support services
- Process Library with more than 2,000 proven recipes for more than 350 process tools. Many of these recipes are fully characterized and can be implemented using Statistical Process Control methodologies.
- Process Engineering Services for specialized materials, process or integration requirements.
- Wafer Processing Services, including CMOS and MEMS wafer process integration services.
- Reticle services, including reticle design and procurement.
- Analytical services
- Advanced microscopy
- Material analysis
- Process characterization
- Failure analysis services
- In-line metrology services
- SVTC eTest, which provides 24x7 access to equipment that enables wafer-level, electrical testing to examine process performance in detail
- Commercialization services
SVTC's FastXferTM Service combines engineering skills, operating procedures and project management capabilities to enable faster and more reliable transfers into volume production.
Commercialization services anticipate the challenges of transferring technology into a full-scale production environment. Customers can choose their own manufacturing partners or leverage SVTC's foundry partner relationship with TSMC.
SVTC's offerings are designed and implemented to help customers improve their time to revenue. By operating 24x7 with high equipment up-times, process expertise and sophisticated scheduling and wafer tracking, SVTC consistently offers the fastest turnaround times and collapses time to market.
Partnerships
SVTC is dedicated to forging partnerships with the companies best suited to create the most well-rounded, capable environment for customers to fully develop their silicon ideas. SVTC's growing list of partnerships and relationships includes Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), the largest wafer foundry supplier in the world. TSMC is SVTC's first Premier Foundry Partner.
By partnering with production wafer foundries, SVTC enables customers to develop novel silicon ideas in SVTC's independent and IP-secure fab environment and then rapidly move the newly developed silicon technology from concept to manufacturing.
Management Team
- Bert Bruggeman, Chief Executive Officer
- Dave Bergeron, Chief Technology Officer
- Brian Stein, Chief Financial Officer
- Tricia White, Vice President of Human Resources
- Greg White, Vice President of Sales
- Jon Myers, Vice President of Business Development
- Dave Anderson, Vice President of Marketing
- Wilbur Catabay, Vice President of Technology and Engineering
- Mike Moore, General Manager, Fab Services, San Jose
- Tom Lambe, General Manager, Fab Services, Austin
- Dave Busch, Sr. Director of Marketing
- Prakash Krishnan, Director of Strategic Marketing
Board of Directors
- Bert Bruggeman
- Joseph R. Bronson
- J. Crandall
- Robert Morse
- William Pade
- Luis Arzubi
- George Pavlov
- Dr. Kenneth Kin
Financials
SVTC Technologies is a privately held company with equity financing from Oak Hill Capital Partners, Tallwood Venture Capital and others.
Contact information
Corporate Headquarters and Silicon Valley fab:
SVTC Technologies
3901 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95134
408-240-7000
SVTC Austin fab:
SVTC Technologies
2706 Montopolis Drive
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 356-2000
Marketing Communications:
Ashwin Kumar
(512) 356-2312 office
ashwin.kumar@svtc.com
