Domestic researchers are starting a foundry pilot service for the first time to localize 150nm gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology, and with domestic companies securing next-generation semiconductor technology, technological independence is expected in cutting-edge industries such as defense, 6G, and satellites.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 4th that it held a public presentation on the world-class 150nm (0.15um) gallium nitride microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) design kit (PDK) developed through the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'Telecommunication Compound Semiconductor Research Foundry Construction Project' with representatives from industry, academia, and research in attendance.

The 150nm GaN semiconductor, which is attracting worldwide attention, can only be produced through foundries in six institutions worldwide.

In particular, ETRI has been able to successfully develop GaN semiconductors by accumulating compound semiconductor-related technologies over the past 36 years of fab operation.

Based on this technological accumulation, the research team possesses excellent know-how in major processes such as micro-patterning and etching, and is evaluated as the world's best in terms of yield and reliability.

Until now, domestic compound semiconductor companies have relied on foreign foundries to produce their own chips.

design The development period for the process took a long time, which led to difficulties in system verification and delivery, and reduced competitiveness.

Recent international political changes and supply chain issues have been major obstacles for companies, but ETRI's foundry service is like a blessing to companies.

Based on its research results, ETRI plans to actively support semiconductor-related companies such as K-Defense.

We decided to make chip manufacturing easier by creating and distributing the design environment essential for chip design.

To provide foundry services, a process design kit (PDK) developed to fit the process and provided to customers is essential.

Starting this year, ETRI will begin providing full-scale support to companies through pilot services free of charge.

First, the research team will select four companies through proposal reception in April for the multi-project wafer (MPW) service, and then start the first foundry service in the second half of the year by receiving design applications.

It was decided to select four companies each in 2025 and 2026, and to receive demand from a total of 12 companies over three years and take responsibility for chip production free of charge.

ETRI uses its 4-inch GaN semiconductor manufacturing batch process technology and production fab to provide services to companies at a level equivalent to that of overseas companies.

The research team has dramatically improved the performance of the device, making it possible to produce an MMIC that supports up to the Ka-band frequency band.

By providing PDK, we can now provide customized foundry services.

ETRI has completed the development of MMIC component process technology and design technology, including fine gate formation technology that determines the characteristics of electronic devices.

After completing manufacturing and device performance verification in our own compound fab, we will move into foundry pilot service.

The process design kit provided by ETRI includes device information, models, layouts, and circuit verification, and provides an environment for MMIC design, thereby lowering the threshold for users to easily utilize foundry services.

Meanwhile, commercial 300-400 nanometer (0.3-0.4 um) GaN semiconductor foundry services for mobile communications have been provided domestically.

On the other hand, the operating frequency of GaN devices is most affected by the gate length of the device, which limits the operating frequency of the MMIC that can be manufactured to a frequency band below the X-band (~8 GHz).

The 150nm-class service provided by ETRI solves these problems.

The 150-nanometer class has an ultra-fine pattern and excellent semiconductor compound properties, allowing operation at 20 GHz to 30 GHz.

The 150nm-class service provided by ETRI is expected to solve the problems that companies have had so far, and ETRI announced that its 150nm-class GaN devices and integrated circuits can operate in the 30GHz operating frequency band.

ETRI is receiving great interest from not only military weapon system companies but also related industries, academia, and research institutes in this service.

The research team predicted that if a circuit design environment suitable for the ETRI Fab process is provided to customers, it will be a great opportunity for the future activation and independence of the semiconductor industry.

The research team plans to review the progress of the pilot service in the future and listen to user opinions to improve the service.

We will also strive to localize world-class GaN semiconductor technology and secure competitiveness in key ICT fields.

ETRI President Seung-chan Bang said, “Various ICT convergence applications that were previously dependent on foreign companiesHe said, “We have achieved self-sufficiency in the GaN component process that can be applied to next-generation mobile communications and radar. By achieving localization of high-power GaN devices, we are expected to greatly contribute to responding to export regulations and international technology competition.”

At the public presentation held on this day, ETRI's Optical Wireless Research Center Director Kwon Yong-hwan introduced the foundry business, and RF/Power Components Research Lab Director Kang Dong-min presented a demonstration service.

In the semiconductor technology competition, foundry services in particular are experiencing the fiercest competition both domestically and internationally.

There are only a handful of foundry service providers in the world that offer this level of service.

French IT market research firm Yole Group predicts that the market size of GaN wireless communication (RF) devices will grow to 3.6 trillion won by 2028.

Meanwhile, the GaN high-power element developed by ETRI through joint research with domestic companies has passed the system suitability test for the radar of the Aegis ship, the next-generation domestic destroyer.