German government to fund ams OSRAM optoelectronic semiconductor development
ams OSRAM, a manufacturer of intelligent sensors and emitters, has announced it has received notice of substantial public funding from the German federal government and the Free State of Bavaria to boost the further development of semiconductor technology. The envisaged IPCEI funding (Important Project of Common European Interest) is intended to support ams OSRAM in making its own investments in the research and development of innovative optoelectronic components at its Regensburg location. The company says it is striving to strengthen its development and manufacturing in Regensburg for future investments.
At an event at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action on 18 September 2023, ams OSRAM presented its project launched within the scope of the IPCEI ME/CT (Microelectronics and Communication Technologies). The company says that, with the intended public funding, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) acknowledges that this project is of European significance – and supports the related investments in cooperation with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
The application for public subsidies of more than €300 million are subject to the official notice of the grant. ams OSRAM has said that the amount will be mainly invested in activities for the research and development of innovative optoelectronic semiconductors and their manufacturing processes, thus creating 400 new high-tech jobs. In addition, the company intends to invest in new clean room and laboratory facilities for research, development and pilot production – equipping them for work on various applications, such as UV-C LEDs for disinfection and near-infrared emitters for LiDAR for autonomous driving, as well as on fields of application in the context of Industry 4.0. Another special focus will be microLEDs for use in an all-new type of display.
“By expanding our development activities in the field of optoelectronic semiconductors, we can create room for innovation and accelerate the time to market for our products”, emphasises Aldo Kamper, CEO of ams OSRAM. “At the same time, our investment is a clear commitment to Regensburg as an industrial hub, Bavaria as a high-tech location, and Europe as a hotbed of innovation. High tech light from Regensburg belongs to the city like St. Peter´s Cathedral and the Old Stone Bridge. Here we create new, energy-efficient products and production processes to drive digitalisation and thus support the European Green Deal and the autonomy of Europe in the field of semiconductors. In line with our future-oriented “Re-Establish the Base” programme, we will continue to build on ams OSRAM’s market-leading core competency and shape the future of the semiconductor market from this Bavarian city.”
Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, adds: “ams OSRAM stands for high tech made in Regensburg. As the Bavarian state government, we deliberately participate in the financing of this IPCEI project. This is fully in line with our intention to further expand Bavaria as a top international location for the semiconductor industry. Every euro is well invested and will create new jobs in a highly innovative environment.”
