KTH ICT spin off TranSiC acquired by U.S. listed company
The global semiconductor giant Fairchild Semiconductor buys TranSiC AB for 17 million U.S. Dollars. TranSiC was founded in 2005 by the Royal Institute of Technology professor Mikael Östling, together with the contractor Bo Hammarlund and researcher Martin Domeij.
TranSiC designs and manufactures bipolar power transistors in silicon carbide. Using these advanced components TranSiC clients can develop more compact and cryogenic control systems for electric motors which are, for example in the next generation of hybrid cars and wind turbines.
“It's great fun and really very logical that Fairchild buys TranSiC”, says Professor Mikael Östling. “A small company TranSiC needs the big muscles that an American company has to develop the new technology at the right pace and with a right knowledge of the market. Fairchild - with its strong focus on power electronics - has of course the necessary production know-how and above all the right sales channels.
The great research environment at KTH in Kista and the availability of the Electrum Laboratory has been very essential element in the successful development of TranSiC according to Mikael Östling. The KTH Electrum laboratory is unique because you can combine academic basic research with a commercial device production on a small scale. Also the entrepreneurial spirit and access to advice and support by STING (Stockholm Innovation and Growth) has been very helpful in the early stages of TranSiC.
“In view of Fairchild’s previous market breakthroughs it feels especially rewarding to me that they have bought TranSiC which provides a new and groundbreaking technology, "said Mikael Östling.
In the last decade the main focus of Fairchild's Semiconductor has been power devices. With the purchase of TranSiC AB Fairchild is the first commercial large company that develops and sells bipolar power transistors in silicon carbide.
"The combination of silicon carbide technology with Fairchild's existing capabilities in MOSFETs, IGBTs and multi-chip modules, along with our global access to customers, positions us to continue to be a leader in innovative, high performance power transistor technology," said Mark Thompson, Fairchild's Chairman, CEO and president in a press release.
Facts
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor is a very interesting company with a prestigious history. It is one of the pioneer companies in Silicon Valley and founded in 1957 by a renowned collection of top names in the industry. They had all started their careers in the company Shockley Semiconductor founded by Nobel laureate William Shockley two years earlier. They soon left the company and started Fairchild Semiconductor after well-documented difficulties cooperating with Shockley. The most famous of the founders are Gordon E. Moore (Moore's Law), Robert N. Noyce (inventor of the first integrated circuit) and the Jean A. Hoerni (invented the so-called planar process for silicon technology). Moore and Noyce were also key figures behind the formation of Intel.
Fairchild has over the years has been behind many technology breakthroughs. Fairchild belonged to National Semiconductor Corporation in a decade, but since 1997 is Fairchild Semiconductor.
TranSiC
TranSiC is a start-up from KTH ICT in Kista, founded in December 2005 by Professor Mikael Östling, Professor Martin Domeij and M.Sc. Bo Hammarlund. TranSiC was supported financially at the start of VINNOVA and the Energy Agency. TranSiC has since had professional assistance in business development of the Stockholm Innovation and Growth.
TranSiC is a world leading developer and manufacturer of Bipolar Power Transistors in Silicon Carbide (SiC). TranSiC provides high performance power transistors for a multitude of applications. Depending on in which application the power transistor is intended to be used, the advantages for using it vary accordingly.
Through solid experience in design, development and process innovation, TranSiC develops state-of-the-art power transistors in Silicon Carbide. The transistors are developed to meet the highest standards of power control in harsh high temperature environments as well as high efficiency operation in power electronics.