Category Archives: LEDs

“The LED market is a complex but promising market,” commented Pars Mukish, Business Unit Manager, LED, OLED and Sapphire at Yole Développement (Yole). In 2015, companies are not relying on more technical breakthroughs, except at the LED module level, where integration remains an important issue.

“However, there is still overcapacity,” said Mukish. “This is causing many changes in the supply chain, first at the chip level, then at the module/system level. The spin-off Royal Philips announced in July 2014 of its LED business, which grew from its acquisition of Lumileds in 2005, is one example.”

The LED industry’s complexity results from numerous technical issues, its many players and a multitude of lighting applications. Its promise comes thanks to especially large volume lighting opportunities, stresses Yole in its latest reports. Yole, the ‘More than Moore’ market research and strategy consulting company, foresees a global business reaching almost $516 million at the system level by 2016. (Source: LED in road and street lighting report, Jul. 2013, Yole Développement & Luxfit)

Today, LED technology’s average penetration rate is from 10-20 percent depending on geographic area. Each country has its own policy and has set up different measures to help LED implementation. For example, in Japan, penetration has reached 30 percent, thanks to government involvement.

Governmental measures are clearly welcome, as the technology is still considered expensive by the public. “Even though we saw a real breakthrough for LED technology from 2006 to 2014, upfront LED costs are still high compared to existing technologies,” explains Mukish. “Today, the real growth is in external lighting applications where LED technology is partially implemented. Commercial and industrial lighting players are also considering LED technology but today implementation is still developing.

In 2015, technical issues are different to previous years. They are mainly located at the LED module level. LED market leaders are therefore developing answers to packaging and integration needs. In the report entitled LED Packaging Technology and Market trends (Sept. 2014, Yole Développement), Yole has detailed the positive impact of advanced packaging technologies on LED manufacturing, especially LED packaging materials.

Mukish adds: “In 2015, we clearly see the value moving later in the supply chain. It was initially at the LED chip level, but we have identified strong investments at the module and system level to develop smart solutions in terms of packaging technologies and functionalities.” In this context, Yole is focusing its 2015 activities on analyzing new technologies at the LED module level. The company is investigating the impact on the supply chain and determining key players’ strategies (LED module, related technologies and equipment report: available mid-2015).

illus_ledactivities_yole_march2015

Poised for more growth


March 17, 2015

By Christian G. Dieseldorff, Industry Research & Statistics Group, SEMI

The most recent edition of the SEMI World Fab Forecast report — which tracks fab spending for construction and equipment, as well as capacity changes, and technology nodes transitions and product type changes by fab — reveals a positive forecast. The report shows that fab equipment spending in 2014 increased 20 percent, is expected to rise 15 percent in 2015, with another increase of 2-4 percent in 2016. Spending on construction projects, which typically represents new cleanroom projects, will see a significant decline in 2015 with -32 percent, but is expected to increase by 32 percent in 2016.  Since its last publication in November 2014, about 270 updates were made including data on 17 new facilities.

Fab Equipment/Fab Construction (2013-2016)

 

2013

2014

2015

2016

Fab equipment* 

$29.4

$35.2

$40.5

$41 to $42

Change % Fab equipment

-10.0%

19.8%

15.0%

2% to 4%

Fab construction US$

$8.8

$7.7

$5.2

$6.9

Change % construction

13.6%

-11.0%

-32.0%

+32.0%

Chart US$, in billions; Source: SEMI, March 2015SEMI World Fab Forecast and its related Fab Database reports track any equipment needed to ramp fabs, upgrade technology nodes, and expand or change wafer size, including new equipment, used equipment, or in-house equipment and spending on facilities for installation.

The SEMI World Fab Forecast and its related Fab Database reports track any equipment needed to ramp fabs, upgrade technology nodes, and expand or change wafer size, including new equipment, used equipment, or in-house equipment and spending on facilities for installation.

Fab spending, such as construction spending and equipment spending, are fractions of a company’s total capital expenditure (capex). Typically, if capex shows a trend to increase, fab spending will follow.  Capex for most of the large semiconductor companies is expected to increase by eight percent in 2015, and grow another three percent in 2016. These increases are driven by new fab construction projects and also ramp of new technology nodes. Spending on construction projects, which typically represents new cleanroom projects, will experience a significant -32 percent decline in 2015, but is expected to rebound by 32 percent in 2016.

With worldwide capex growth of 8 percent, fab equipment spending is expected to increase by 15 percent in 2015.  At this point, SEMI’s data predict a slowdown of fab equipment spending in 2016 to low single digits.  No negative change is currently expected in our forecast scenario. Looking back to the last 25 years, after two years of growth a negative year typically followed. This may not be the case this time. Developments in the industry are pointing to a small but positive 2016.

Most fab equipment spending in 2015 is for foundry, memory, and Logic+MPU. Discretes including LED remain at about 4 percent share, MEMS/Other about 2-3 percent and Analog at less than1 percent.  Distribution will not change for 2016, except for foundry spending, which continues to increase year-over-year.

Comparing regions across the world, according to SEMI, the highest fab equipment spending in 2015 will occur in Taiwan, with US$ 11.9 billion, followed by Korea with US$ 9 billion.  The region with third largest spending, the Americas, is forecast to spend about US$ 7 billion.  Yet growth will decline in the Americas, by 12 percent in 2015, and decline by 12 percent in 2016 again.  Fourth in spending is China, with US$ 4.7 billion in 2015 and US$ 4.2 billion in 2016. In other regions, Japan’s spending will grow by about 6 percent in 2015, to US$ 4 billion; and 2 percent in 2016, to US$ 4.2 billion.  The Europe/Mideast region will see growth of about 20 percent (US$ 2.7 billion) in 2015 and over 30 percent (US$ 3.5 billion) in 2016. South East Asia is expected to grow by about 15 percent (US$ 1.3 billion) in 2015 and 70 percent (US$ 2.2 billion) in 2016.

New facilities beginning construction in 2015 and 2016 will start equipping in 2016 or later. SEMI’s data show that seven new facilities will start construction in 2015 (including one LED and one shell). In 2016, construction will possibly begin on five or six new fabs.

2015 is expected to be the second consecutive year in equipment spending growth. Our positive outlook for the year is based on spending trends we are tracking as part of our fab investment research. As noted in some of the examples cited above, the “bottom’s up” company-by-company and fab-by-fab approach points to strong investments by foundries and memory companies driving this year’s growth. Learn more about the SEMI fab databases at: www.semi.org/MarketInfo/FabDatabase.

Soraa, a developer of GaN on GaN LED technology, announced today that Ann Reo has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Product Development. Ann brings over 20 years of LED product development and lighting design experience to Soraa.

“Over the last year, our product offering has expanded far beyond the MR16 LED lamp that put us on the map,” said Jeff Parker, CEO of Soraa. “Ann’s background in lighting design and expertise in building LED products from the ground up gives Soraa an edge in pioneering solutions that designers and customers want—and the market needs.”

“LED technology has fascinated me since 1999, and I believe Soraa’s GaN on GaN LED technology is the first true milestone since the invention of the LED,” explained Ms. Reo. “I am beyond thrilled to be joining such an innovative company with a very talented team, and I look forward to developing LED products that continue to inspire outstanding lighting designs.”

After completing her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Masters of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the first decade of Reo’s career was split between architectural firms, lighting companies and design consultancies. Then in 2001, Ann developed a business plan, raised venture capital investment and launched her own LED-based luminaire company named io Lighting. Serving as President and CEO, she grew the company until Eaton’s Cooper Lighting acquired it in 2007. Under Ann’s leadership, IO’s products won several design awards, including the Best New Product of the Year at LIGHTFAIR International 2004., At Cooper, Reo stayed on board as Vice President of Global SSL Solutions and General Manager of io Lighting.

Ann will lead Soraa’s new product development efforts in light engine design for OEM integration as well as custom solutions for specifiers, OEMS and end-users.

The industrial semiconductor market will post a 9.7 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years as revenue rises from $34.8 billion in 2013 to $55.2 billion in 2018, according to IHS, a global source of critical information and insight. Increased capital spending by companies and continued economic growth, especially in the United States and China, and will help spur demand and drive sales growth for industrial semiconductors.

Based on the latest information from the Q4 2014 Industrial Semi Market Report from IHS Semiconductors and Components Service, factory automation, building and home control and commercial aircraft are driving demand for industrial semiconductors. In fact, industrial semiconductor sales posted 4.7 percent growth in the third quarter (Q3) of 2014 alone compared to the previous quarter. By the end of 2014 the market grew an estimated 16.8 percent over the previous year. Demand was especially strong for optical LEDs, which grew 23.4 percent, rising from $6.3 billion to $7.7 billion. Discrete power transistors and thyristors posted 13.4 percent growth, rising from $5.5 billion in 2013 to $6.3 billion in 2014.

ihs industrial semi report

 

Industrial OEM factory revenues were expected to grow 8.3 percent in 2014 on increased sales in the building and home-control market. High-growth categories include LED lighting and IP cameras and other digital video surveillance products.

“Because of strong growth in the industrial segment, semiconductor companies are paying more attention to this market as more chips are being used in applications that did not previously use semiconductors,” said Robbie Galoso, principal analyst for IHS. “Growth in the industrial segment has also been buoyed by a gradual acceleration in the global economy, which continues to boost industrial equipment demand, especially from the United States and China.”

The global economy was strong in 2014 and, led by the United States, it is expected to flourish through 2018. U.S. economic growth is broad-based than in other regions, with a more stabilized housing market, improved consumer finances and credit, and increased capital spending. U.S real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to reach 2.4 percent in 2014, 3.1 percent in 2015 and 2.7 percent in 2016.

The United States accounted for 30.5 percent of all semiconductors used in industrial applications in 2013. China is the second largest industrial chip buyer, purchasing about 14 percent of all industrial semiconductors. Its economy will grow 7.3 percent in 2014, 6.5 percent in 2015 and 6.7 percent in 2016.

“Stronger economic growth and increased capital spending in the United States and China is good news for industrial semiconductor manufacturers because they are the leading purchasers of industrial semiconductors,” Galoso said. “A solid economy and robust industrial equipment demand will further boost sales of optical semiconductors, analog chips and discretes, which are the three largest industrial semiconductor product segments.”

LED demand shines

Revenue from optical chips for industrial applications will grow from $8.6 billion in 2013 to $15.9 billion in 2018. The optical chip segment includes LEDs for general lighting, which represented 72 percent of the optical category in 2013, and will reach 78.4 percent in 2018. Optocouplers used in motor drives in factory automation and energy distribution, conversion and storage, is the second biggest product category within optical integrated circuits (ICs).

Analog semiconductor revenue will increase from $6.7 billion 2013 to $9.9 billion in 2018, while discretes increase from $6.4 billion to $8.6 billion. The analog semiconductor segment includes voltage regulators and reference, data converters, amplifiers and comparators, and interface ICs, which are used in factory automation, motor drives, and energy conversion and storage.

Image sensors are the smallest category in the optical chip segment. These sensors are currently transitioning from charge-coupled-device (CCD) image sensors to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors that are widely used in security cameras, medical imaging equipment and military devices.

Industrial semiconductors with the strongest compound annual growth rates from 2013 through 2018 will include logic semiconductors at 13.4 percent, optical semiconductors at 13 percent and sensors and actuators at 10.8 percent.

Logic ICs are widely used in automation, including programmable logic controllers, digital control systems and communication and networking that extend across various markets, machine vision, and military applications.

Growth drivers

“The robust growth in demand for industrial semiconductors over the next three years will be driven by a wide range of products and segments,” Galoso said. “These products include 3D printers, factory automation products, commercial aircraft, LED lighting, digital IP cameras, climate control devices, renewable energy products, medical electronics and wireless application-specific testers.

Industrial 3D printers is a high growth category that will help drive industrial semiconductor usage in the coming years. It includes equipment used to manufacture objects through an additive process of laying down successive layers of material, until the entire object is created.

Avionics will continue to lead growth in the industrial segment. The commercial aircraft market offset the military aircraft market in the third quarter 2014. Total avionics revenue was expected to finish 2014 with 16.9 percent growth.

Led by China and the United States, the factory automation segment has grown over the past five quarters. The segment is forecast to reach 5.9 percent growth in 2014.

Samsung, Apple and Chinese OEMs will drive revenue in the light sensor market to grow 16 percent between 2013 and 2016, according to a new report released today from IHS Inc., a global source of critical information and insight.

The latest MEMS & Sensors report from IHS, Shining a Light on a Colourful Market, found that revenues will reach $767 million in 2016, a 16 percent rise in three years (2013 to 2016).

“Between 2013 and 2015, there has been a rapid adoption of light sensor units, mostly thanks to Samsung,” said Marwan Boustany, senior analyst for MEMS and Sensors at IHS Technology. “Samsung has led the mass adoption of RGB sensors, gesture sensors, optical pulse sensors and even UV sensors in this timeframe.”

Apple and Samsung lead the pack, but Chinese firms are on their heels

In 2014, Samsung accounted for 43 percent of light sensor spending in handsets. The company spent $271.8 million on light sensors in 2014, with a sizeable portion of this coming from the apathetically received pulse sensor.

Apple is the second largest buyer of light sensors after Samsung and spent $129.5 million in 2014. Apple accounted for 19 percent of light sensor spending in handsets in 2014 because Apple uses custom and high performance parts. IHS forecasts that by 2017, Apple will adopt a 3-in-1 package because solutions that offer both the size and performance it seeks should be available by this time.

Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) represented 23 percent of light sensor spending in 2014, mostly on standard low cost components and a small percentage of high cost, high performance parts.

“The Chinese market remains a place where anything and everything can be tried as companies try to find any and every means to differentiate or at least match flagships from Samsung and Apple,” Boustany said. “Chinese OEMs are also characterized by preferring to have several suppliers for their sensors, ranging from three to six or more suppliers. The Chinese market is very competitive with price being the key element for most OEMs.”

Top sensor suppliers and new champions

Ams claimed the top spot in terms of revenue and units thanks to its range of customers and its key design wins with Samsung flagships and its spread across Apple products. Ams shipped 744 million sensors in 2014.

Maxim followed in second place. “Maxim managed to be a top performer in the consumer light sensor market, with 132 million light sensors shipped in 2014, with the majority of these being optical pulse sensors going into Samsung’s flagship devices.

The important news in 2014 is the rapid rise of companies like Sitronix, Elan and Everlight. “Sitronix has been successful at being a second or third source to a range of top tier companies, which means it can grow safely and rapidly,” Boustany said. “In 2014, it achieved about $25 million for a 69 percent revenue growth.”

Light_sensor_units_-_IHS_Technology

Marktech Optoelectronics Corp. announces the addition of a PLCC-4 and miniature ceramic package to the 650nm and 850nm Point Source LED series. Point Source LEDs are designed to deliver precise and consistent performance in the most demanding applications such as high-speed optical encoders, linear positioning, optical switch and critical sensing applications. As miniaturization continues to be the focus of new product designs, small high reliability LED packaging will be needed to match performance.

Marktech Point Source LEDs are powered by a unique LED die that produces a well-defined pattern of light similar to a “point.” These die or chips in combination with high quality optical grade glass lenses produce an extremely narrow, near parallel radiation pattern. This unobstructed, radiated beam pattern is made possible by masking the die and relocating the topside electrode. By eliminating the “dark spot” typically associated with the center of conventional LEDs, the point source LED yields superior results in critical sensing applications.

Through-hole package options for this series include high reliability hermetically sealed TO-18 and TO-46 metal cans with a variety of lensing options which produce and array of viewing angles. Devices supplied without optics are manufactured with a flat glass window allowing the designer to utilize proprietary collimating or other application specific optics to take full advantage of the undistorted beam. Vincent C Forte, Marktech CTO said, “The Point Source LED is a suitable alternative to laser diodes in short distant applications offering increased temperature range capabilities and reduced risk of discharge due to ESD.”

Marktech ceramic package LED

SEMI today announced an update of the SEMI World Fab Forecast report which updates outlooks for 2015 and 2016. The SEMI report reveals that fab equipment spending in 2014 increased almost 20 percent and will rise 15 percent in 2015, increasing only 2-4 percent in 2016. Since November 2014, SEMI has made 270 updates on its World Fab Forecast report, which tracks fab spending for construction and equipment, as well as capacity changes, and technology nodes transitions and product type changes by fab.

2013

2014

2015

2016

Fab equipment*

$29.4

$35.2

$40.5

$41 to $42

Change % Fab equipment

-10.0%

19.8%

15.0%

2% to 4%

Fab construction US$

$8.8

$7.7

$5.2

$6.9

Change % construction

13.6%

-11.0%

-32.0%

+32.0%

* Chart US$, in billions; Source: SEMI, March 2015

The SEMI World Fab Forecast and its related Fab Database reports track any equipment needed to ramp fabs, upgrade technology nodes, and expand or change wafer size, including new equipment, used equipment, or in-house equipment and spending on facilities for installation.

Fab spending, such as construction spending and equipment spending, are fractions of a company’s total capital expenditure (capex). Typically, if capex shows a trend to increase, fab spending will follow.  Capex for most of the large semiconductor companies is expected to increase by 8 percent in 2015, and grow another 3 percent in 2016. These increases are driven by new fab construction projects and also ramp of new technology nodes. Spending on construction projects, which typically represents new cleanroom projects, will experience a significant -32 percent decline in 2015, but is expected to rebound by 32 percent in 2016.

Comparing regions across the world, according to SEMI, the highest fab equipment spending in 2015 will occur in Taiwan, with US$ 11.9 billion, followed by Korea with US$ 9 billion.  The region with third largest spending, the Americas, is forecast to spend about US$ 7 billion.  Yet growth will decline in the Americas, by 12 percent in 2015, and decline by 12 percent in 2016 again.  Fourth in spending is China, with US$ 4.7 billion in 2015 and US$ 4.2 billion in 2016. In other regions, Japan’s spending will grow by about 6 percent in 2015, to US$ 4 billion; and 2 percent in 2016, to US$ 4.2 billion.  The Europe/Mideast region will see growth of about 20 percent (US$ 2.7 billion) in 2015 and over 30 percent (US$ 3.5 billion) in 2016. South East Asia is expected to grow by about 15 percent (US$ 1.3 billion) in 2015 and 70 percent (US$ 2.2 billion) in 2016.

2015 is expected to be the second consecutive year in equipment spending growth. SEMI’s positive outlook for the year is based on spending trends tracked as part of our fab investment research. The “bottom’s up” company-by-company and fab-by-fab approach points to strong investments by foundries and memory companies driving this year’s growth.

The SEMI World Fab Forecast Report lists over 40 facilities making DRAM products. Many facilities have major spending for equipment and construction planned for 2015.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $28.5 billion for the month of January 2015, the industry’s highest-ever January total and an increase of 8.7 percent from January 2014 when sales were $26.3 billion. Global sales from January 2015 were 2 percent lower than the December 2014 total of $29.1 billion, reflecting normal seasonal trends. Regionally, sales in the Americas increased by 16.4 percent compared to last January to lead all regional markets. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

“After a record-setting 2014, the global semiconductor industry is off to a promising start to 2015, posting its highest-ever January sales led by impressive growth in the Americas market,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Global sales have increased on a year-to-year basis for 21 consecutive months and remain strong across most regions and product categories.”

Regionally, year-to-year sales increased in the Americas (16.4 percent) and Asia Pacific (10.7 percent), but decreased in Europe (-0.2 percent) and Japan (-8 percent). Sales decreased compared to the previous month in Asia Pacific (-0.8 percent), Europe (-2 percent), the Americas (-3.3 percent), and Japan (-6.4 percent).

January 2015
Billions
Month-to-Month Sales
Market Last Month Current Month % Change
Americas 6.73 6.51 -3.3%
Europe 3.01 2.94 -2.0%
Japan 2.80 2.62 -6.4%
Asia Pacific 16.59 16.46 -0.8%
Total 29.13 28.53 -2.0%
Year-to-Year Sales
Market Last Year Current Month % Change
Americas 5.59 6.51 16.4%
Europe 2.95 2.94 -0.2%
Japan 2.84 2.62 -8.0%
Asia Pacific 14.87 16.46 10.7%
Total 26.25 28.53 8.7%
Three-Month-Moving Average Sales
Market Aug/Sep/Oct Nov/Dec/Jan % Change
Americas 6.41 6.51 1.5%
Europe 3.21 2.94 -8.2%
Japan 3.01 2.62 -13.1%
Asia Pacific 17.05 16.46 -3.5%
Total 29.68 28.53 -3.9%

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are made from carbon-containing materials, have the potential to revolutionize future display technologies, making low-power displays so thin they’ll wrap or fold around other structures, for instance.

Conventional LCD displays must be backlit by either fluorescent light bulbs or conventional LEDs whereas OLEDs don’t require back lighting. An even greater technological breakthrough will be OLED-based laser diodes, and researchers have long dreamed of building organic lasers, but they have been hindered by the organic materials’ tendency to operate inefficiently at the high currents required for lasing.

Now a new study from a team of researchers in California and Japan shows that OLEDs made with finely patterned structures can produce bright, low-power light sources, a key step toward making organic lasers. The results are reported in a paper appearing this week on the cover of the journal Applied Physics Letters, from AIP Publishing.

The key finding, the researchers say, is to confine charge transport and recombination to nanoscale areas, which extends electroluminescent efficiency roll off the current density at which the efficiency of the OLEDs dramatically decreases — by almost two orders of magnitude. The new device structures do this by suppressing heating and preventing charge recombination.

“An important effect of suppressing roll-off is an increase in the efficiency of devices at high brightness,” said Chihaya Adachi of Kyushu University, who is a co-author of the paper. “This results in lower power to obtain the same brightness.”

“For years scientists working in organic semiconductors have dreamed of making electrically-driven organic lasers,” said Thuc-Quyen Nguyen of the University of California, Santa Barbara, another co-author. “Lasers operate in extreme conditions with electric currents that are significantly higher than those used in common displays and lighting. At these high currents, energy loss processes become stronger and make lasing difficult.

“We see this work, which reduces some loss processes, as one step on the road toward realizing organic lasers,” Nguyen added.

How OLEDs Work

OLEDs operate through the interaction of electrons and holes. “As a simple visualization,” Adachi said, “one can think of an organic semiconductor as a subway train with someone sitting in every seat. The seats represent molecules and the people represent energetic particles, i.e., electrons. When people board the train from one end, they have extra energy and want to go to the relaxed state of sitting. As people board, some of the seated people rise and exit the train at the other end leaving empty seats, or ‘holes,’ for the standing people to fill. When a standing person sits, the person goes to a relaxed state and releases energy. In the case of OLEDs, the person releases the energy as light.”

Production of OLED-based lasers requires current densities of thousands of amperes per square centimeter (kA/cm2), but until now, current densities have been limited by heating. “At high current densities, brightness is limited by annihilation processes,” Adachi said. “Think of large numbers of people on the train colliding into each other and losing energy in ways other than by sitting and releasing light.”

In previous work, Adachi and colleagues showed OLED performance at current densities over 1 kA/cm2 but without the necessary efficiency required for lasers and bright lighting. In their current paper, they show that the efficiency problem can be solved by using electron-beam lithography to produce finely-patterned OLED structures. The small device area supports charge density injection of 2.8 kA/cm2 while maintaining 100 times higher luminescent efficiency than previously observed. “In our device structure, we have effectively confined the entrance and exit to the middle of the train. People diffuse to the two less crowded ends of the train and reduce collisions and annihilation.”

SEMICON Russia, a meeting place of the entire micro- and nanoelectronics industry in Russia, will take place from 16 to 18 June in Moscow. SEMICON Russia Exhibition is scheduled for 17-18 June with traditional location at Expocentre fairgrounds.  With programs that include the Microelectronics Market Conference, an Exhibition, TechARENA sessions and presentations, SEMICON Russia offers advanced opportunities for networking and cooperation with local and foreign professionals.  The event features the latest developments and emerging new markets, in addition to an opportunity to connect with customers, partners and investors. In 2015, SEMICON Russia features a new program TechARENA, consisting of sessions on Intelligent Systems and Semiconductor Optoelectronics. In addition, SEMICON Russia offers its exhibitors a TechLOUNGE where they can present their latest products and innovations. Over 130 exhibitors from 15 countries — including international and regional leading suppliers of equipment, materials and services — are expected to be on the show floor and more than 1500 attendees.

The Microelectronics Market Conference takes place on 16 June the day before the exhibition opening in Expocentre. It is devoted to the creation of large-scale manufacture of electronics in the Russian regions: markets, technology and government support.   The event is a unique opportunity to get a comprehensive perspective of the market situation, with panel discussions which include open debates. The Conference is attended by the representatives of federal and regional organizations and agencies, top and middle managers of major Russian and foreign companies, development institutions, Research Studies Institutes, industrial clusters, Russian and foreign experts.

Conference speakers include: Heinz Kundert, President of SEMI Europe; Alena Fomina, Managing director of JSC “CNII Elektronika;” Pavel Rudnik, Deputy Director, the Department of Innovative Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation;  Dmitry Krinitskiy, Head of the Department for regional policy and cooperation with authorities, JSC “RUSNANO”; Denis Mironov, Vice-Chairman of Saint Petersburg Industrial Policy Innovations Committee; and  Evgeny Shakhmatov, Head of Samara State Aerospace University. For details about the agenda, please visit http://www.semiconrussia.org/en/Programs/Overview.

From 17 to 18 June, the Expocentre in Moscow will host the eighth SEMICON Russia exhibition, where leading companies from around the world will showcase their products, equipment, technology, facilities and services. Every year SEMICON Russia becomes a must-visit event for the global industry community: consumers, developers, engineers and researchers interested in the application and development of microelectronics technologies including: MEMS technology packaging, A3B5 electronics, photovoltaics, and flexible electronics. SEMICON Russia 2015 exhibitors include: SVCS s.r.o., Maicom Quarz GmbH, DIPAUL group, Eltech SPb, JSC, Schenker Deutschland AG, FÄTH, IMEC, M+W Group, STMicroelectronics, «NPP «ESTO» Isc, Zelenograd Innovation cluster Technounity.  Exhibiting companies are from Russia, Germany, Belarus, Czech Republic, France, UK, Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy.

“Despite global challenges, we believe that now is the time to strengthen the Russian industry. As the №1 global trade association committed to microelectronics industry development worldwide, SEMI will continue the effort to support the Russian microelectronic industry. Russian companies are looking for technical partnerships to improve competitiveness. SEMICON Russia is discussing new opportunities— including public-private partnership project development.  The semiconductor (and related) industries are also supported by the government and other local organizations, making SEMICON Russia an ideal place to connect to the industry, said Heinz Kundert, President of SEMI Europe.

On 17 June, for the first time TechARENA will present the “Smart Systems” session, which will provide an overview of global developments, future applications and markets. The session will focus on building successful cooperation with the Russian companies and funding possibilities.  In addition, the “Semiconductor Optoelectronics” session will take place on the 18 June at TechARENA in honor of the International Year of Light (YIL2015) and light-based technologies declared by the United Nations. This session will give an overview of the current trends and developments of the semiconductor optoelectronics technologies in Russia. Leading Russian and European experts and specialists will provide the R&D results and implementation projects, and review current and potential collaboration between Russian and other world players in this field. Within the framework of TechARENA program, SEMICON Russia exhibitors will make presentations. Visitors of SEMICON Russia get a free access to all TechARENA events.

For more information on SEMICON Russia 2015, please visit: http://www.semiconrussia.org