Semiconductor giants are increasing investment in SiC and GaN

With the rapid development of new energy electric companies, major car companies and semiconductor manufacturers around the world have set their sights on the third-generation semiconductor field represented by silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN).

Recently, global semiconductor giants Infineon and Bosch are accelerating the research and development and manufacturing of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN).

Bosch overweights silicon carbide, targets gallium nitride

On July 13, Bosch announced that it will invest 3 billion euros in the semiconductor business by 2026.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bosch Group, said that as part of the investment, 170 million euros will be invested in the establishment of two new chip R&D centers in Reutlingen and Dresden, Germany, and 250 million euros will be invested to expand Its fab in Dresden has added a 3,000-square-meter clean room.

According to reports, Bosch will mass-produce silicon carbide chips at the Reutlingen plant from the end of 2021 for use in power electronics for electric and hybrid vehicles. Silicon carbide chips could help electric vehicles extend their range by 6 percent.

In addition, in order to make power electronic devices cheaper and more efficient, Bosch will also explore the development of gallium nitride chips that can be applied to electric vehicles. Compared with traditional silicon-based power chips, the power loss of gallium nitride chips can be reduced 4 times.

The total investment exceeds 12 billion yuan, and the foundation stone of Infineon's new factory is laid

Recently, the foundation stone laying ceremony of Infineon's third factory in Kulim, Malaysia was held. The total investment of the project exceeds RM8 billion, which will be used for the production of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide and gallium nitride products. .

Infineon Chief Operating Officer Rutger Wijburg said that the company's front-end wafer manufacturing base in the Kulim region has formed an advantage of scale. After the third factory is put into production, it will contribute 2 billion euros of new output value, which will also make Infineon better. Meet the growing demand for power semiconductors.

At the beginning of this year, Infineon announced that it will build a third plant in Kulim, Malaysia to increase its manufacturing capabilities in the field of third-generation semiconductors (silicon carbide and gallium nitride).

In fact, Infineon is focusing its firepower on the development of third-generation semiconductors. As of February this year, Infineon has supplied SiC-based semiconductor products to more than 3,000 customers. Infineon plans to increase sales of silicon carbide power semiconductors to $1 billion by the mid-2020s.

Infineon has previously revealed that it will transform the 6-inch and 8-inch silicon-based semiconductor production lines in Villach, Austria, into third-generation semiconductor production lines in the next few years.