May 4, 2012, Seoul – STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications, announced that it solidified its position as a leader in the consumer electronics and portable device MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) motion sensor sector in 2011, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. The company added that its success was the foundation of proactive, long-term investments.

According to research by IHS iSupplies, ST achieved over 80% revenue growth in 2011 in the consumer electronics and portable device market, which is the most dynamic segment of the MEMS market. This is attributed to a market share of over 50% in the accelerometer market, the recovery of initial investment costs in gyroscope development, and the sale of over 15 million digital MEMS microphones in major mobile phone and portable PC markets.

It was announced that gyroscope sales also reached $350 million in 2011, growing more than twofold compared to the previous year and establishing itself as a leading company. Gyroscope sales are expected to grow to $900 million by 2015, with ST’s 3-axis gyroscopes supplied to automotive systems such as navigation and telematics projected to play a major driving role.

Meanwhile, as ST’s newly introduced MEMS pressure sensor begins full-scale shipment, attention is also being paid to the potential for developing products for automotive tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). IHS iSupplies expects the market for automotive tire pressure monitoring systems to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 39% from 2010 to 2015.

IHS iSupplies attributes ST's success to its focus on the consumer electronics and motion MEMS businesses even before "killer apps," such as smartphones and motion-sensing games, gained widespread popularity. Through such rapid investment and market entry, ST has consistently led the technology and has established itself as a leading supplier capable of providing components that combine multiple high-performance MEMS functions into a single package.

ST stated that its expertise in MEMS packaging and its complete supply chain also played a key role in supplying advanced devices. Fabio Pasolini, General Manager of the Motion MEMS Business Unit within STMicroelectronics’ Analog, MEMS, and Sensors Group, said, “ST has led the industry with superior plastic packaging technology and technology to prevent mechanical stress on MEMS mechanisms, providing customers with optimal performance and reliability.”

IHS iSupplies also assessed ST's active establishment of partnerships with industry-leading technology experts as one of the key success factors. These partnerships contributed to shortening the time required to bring innovative products, such as actual MEMS gyroscopes and MEMS microphones, to market.

ST currently holds over 600 MEMS-related patents and recorded its 2 billionth MEMS product shipment last February. It also recently launched the latest iNemo device, a high-performance 9-DOF inertial sensing module that combines a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis magnetic field sensor in a single package. ST's iNemo family of single-package 9-degree-of-freedom inertial module sensors is the industry's highest-performing discrete sensor, developed based on ST's unique technology that integrates three sensors into 16mm³, compared to 12 months ago when the footprint per sensor was 16mm³.

Furthermore, leveraging its expertise in MEMS technology, ST supports not only the mass production of MEMS modules but also the implementation of motion- and location-sensitive applications, location-based services, and indoor navigation in smaller form factors.