AIXTRON SE Fraunhofer IISB in Erlangen and bimanu Cloud Solutions GmbH in Neuss will jointly improve energy efficiency in the production of semiconductor layers based on silicon carbide (SiC). To this end, the partners are cooperating in the project “Increasing Energy Efficiency in SiC Epitaxy”, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and led by AIXTRON.
The aim of the €28.4 million project is to increase resource efficiency (water and energy consumption, waste volume) in the production of layer structures made from SiC compound semiconductors. AI-based methods are being researched and developed for both material- and energy-efficient manufacturing processes and products. The potential here is huge: the aim is to halve the electrical energy required per unit area in the manufacture of SiC semiconductors.
“Semiconductors based on SiC offer significantly better energy efficiency than conventional silicon, for example in electromobility or renewable energies. However, the production of semiconductors is fundamentally energy-intensive. We therefore see a particularly significant opportunity here to make the production of these forward-looking technologies even more efficient and thus promote their widespread use and the green transformation,” says Prof. Dr. Michael Heuken, VP Advanced Technologies, explaining the significance of the project.
As part of the project, production processes will be optimized and actionable recommendations developed. This is where bimanu’s expertise becomes essential. The company brings advanced capabilities in data integration and analytics, particularly across business intelligence, marketing analytics, Industry 4.0, and energy management.
Fraunhofer IISB contributes its extensive research and development expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and plays a central role in process innovation. It operates the only continuous 150 mm SiC development line in Germany—recognized as the top facility in Europe and among the global top five.
AIXTRON’s role focuses on advancing tool technologies. The company will install and operate several test systems to validate simulation models. These models and corresponding data will be developed and refined in close collaboration with bimanu.
