Leading science and technology company Merck is driving innovation in advanced patterning and sustainable semiconductor materials through additional investments at its Shizuoka, Japan site.

Merck announced on the 20th that it recently announced plans to invest more than 70 million euros to establish a new Advanced Materials Development Center (AMDC) in Shizuoka, Japan.

This investment brings Merck’s total investment in the Shizuoka site to over €120 million since its first investment in 2021.

Through this investment, Merck plans to strengthen its existing advanced patterning capabilities and expand its research and development capabilities for the advancement of semiconductor technology, thereby contributing to the growth of the global electronics industry.

The new Advanced Materials Development Center has a facility area of 5,500 square meters and includes a state-of-the-art cleanroom and advanced research space.

Built with scalability in mind, the center includes future facility expansion to meet evolving industry needs.

Merck’s new Advanced Materials Development Center builds on the company’s existing patterning expertise center in Shizuoka to develop cutting-edge solutions for the latest semiconductor nodes and innovative materials that meet stringent environmental standards.

Merck plans to accelerate innovation, improve efficiency and better support its customers’ needs through the expansion of its facilities and the integration of key R&D activities.

“The decision to build a new Advanced Materials Development Center in Shizuoka reflects Merck’s commitment to innovation and the Japanese semiconductor industry,” said Kevin Gorman, senior vice president and head of Merck’s Patterning Solutions business. “Merck’s investment in Shizuoka will enhance our ability to provide Material Intelligence™ to customers around the world, supporting the growth of the semiconductor industry in Japan and globally.”

Japan is a key market for Merck's patterning business, and in addition to business with key customers, we have developed strong partnerships with leading equipment manufacturers. These collaborations have played a significant role in solving the industry's most challenging challenges. Merck is committed to developing these partnerships to advance its technology roadmap.

The establishment of the Advanced Materials Development Center builds on Merck’s commitment to advancing chip technology and sustainable innovation.

The center focuses on cutting-edge materials and solutions, such as EUV (extreme ultraviolet) materials and DSA (self-guided assembly), to address environmental issues while meeting the requirements of next-generation applications, such as AI chips and advanced nodes.

“Merck’s patterning business is essential to driving next-generation semiconductor applications,” said Tomohide Katayama, head of R&D for core products in the Formulations business at Merck. “Research at our new Advanced Materials Development Center will include exploring alternative materials and technology solutions that can help us achieve sustainable manufacturing and deliver the high levels of performance our customers expect.”