iSMILE - integrated scalable microLED engines

Introduction

Today´s microelectronics is suffering from the fact that silicon cannot emit light. Otherwise, technological road blockers like the communication bottleneck of microprocessors or bulky displays hindering the rocket start of augmented reality could easily be overcome.

Project Overview

The EIC accelerator project i`SMILE will bring light to microelectronics. Our goal is to be an enabler for a natural integration of microelectronics with microphotonics.

Objectives

iSMILE will establish a GaN cleanroom in order to be completely independent from non-European manufacturers. Customized microLED modules for AR-glasses will be a first product. Beyond that, iSMILE will be the basis for establishing the worldwide first GaN foundry, making GaN technology fully accessible to European innovators, leading to a “democratisation of microLED technology”.

Vision

Much like TSMC from Taiwan, which is now the world´s largest foundry for silicon CMOS technology, we dream of QubeDot developing into the “TSMC for GaN” in the future.

Production Capabilities

After completion of the project, QubeDot will be able to produce microLED displays and customer-specific microLEDs with the highest precision within its own clean room environment using ISO9001 certified process flows.

Expected Output

With single-shift utilization, the pilot line will be able to generate an output translating into potential annual sales of up to 25 M€, with an estimated margin of 30+%.

Competitive Advantage

While other very large companies do not adapt their production processes for medium-size batches, QubeDot has understood the interaction of essential parameters in the processing of GaN through intensive research and development work. This enables the production of a wide variety of microLED architectures in terms of:

1. Quantity
2. Size
3. Shape
4. Emission color
5. Package

Local Production

While other very large companies depend on semiconductor manufacturers with production sites especially in Asia, or are themselves manufacturing in Asia, QubeDot produces in Europe - at competitive conditions.