Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF) Company Profile

Background

Advanced Micro Foundry (AMF) is a Singapore-based specialty commercial foundry dedicated to silicon photonics. Established as a spin-off from the Institute of Microelectronics, an A*STAR institute, AMF has positioned itself as a pioneer in silicon photonics technology. The company's mission is to be a trusted innovator and manufacturer by prioritizing safety, quality, delivery, and customer service, executed by its people with sustained profitability. AMF's vision is to be the de facto photonics technology that enables customers to succeed in connectivity, sensing, and computing solutions globally.

Key Strategic Focus

AMF specializes in providing silicon photonics solutions for advanced applications, offering customizable prototyping and volume wafer manufacturing services. The company's technology supports a wide range of applications, including telecommunications, data centers, LiDAR, sensing, augmented and virtual reality, and high-performance computing. AMF's proprietary technology leverages over 15 years of experience, enabling the development of prototypes and the launch of commercial products across these sectors.

Financials and Funding

As of July 2024, AMF reported annual revenue of $35 million. The company employs approximately 201 individuals across Asia and North America.

Pipeline Development

AMF offers a range of services to support the development and commercialization of silicon photonics products:

Multi-Project Wafers (MPW): Enables multiple customers to share wafer space, reducing costs and accelerating development cycles.

Custom Prototyping: Provides tailored prototyping services based on AMF's latest Process Design Kits (PDKs).

Volume Production: Supports large-scale manufacturing for product deployment.

Testing Solutions: Offers comprehensive testing services, including inline wafer-level testing and photonics wafer-level testing.

Technological Platform and Innovation

AMF's technological platforms are designed to cater to a broad spectrum of wavelengths and applications:

Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Platform: Versatile platform demonstrated in telecommunications, data communications, optical sensing, and LiDAR, supporting C-Band, L-Band, and O-Band.

Silicon Nitride (SiN) Platforms: Includes SiN on SOI and SiN on Oxide platforms, enabling ultra-low loss waveguides suitable for wavelengths from visible to mid-infrared, applicable in telecom, data centers, and LiDAR.

Silicon Nitride on Glass Platform: Introduced in 2022, targeting applications in lenses, mirrors for augmented reality, virtual reality, sensing, and optical communication solutions.

AMF's Process Design Kits (PDKs) offer over 110 verified devices, including low-loss silicon waveguides, ultra-low loss SiN waveguides, high-bandwidth modulators, and high-responsivity, high-speed photodetectors. These PDKs are compatible with various design tools such as K-Layout, Synopsys, Luceda, and Cadence.

Leadership Team

AMF is led by an experienced executive team with a semiconductor industry background, ensuring reliable and predictable foundry services with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, and customer satisfaction.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The silicon photonics market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for high-speed data transmission, advancements in telecommunications, and the proliferation of data centers. Applications in LiDAR, sensing, and augmented reality further contribute to the market's expansion.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the silicon photonics foundry space include:

GlobalFoundries: A multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company headquartered in Malta, New York. GlobalFoundries offers a range of semiconductor manufacturing services and has a significant presence in the industry.

Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE): A Chinese semiconductor manufacturing equipment company based in Shanghai, involved in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of lithography scanners and inspection tools.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

AMF has established several strategic partnerships to enhance its technological capabilities and market reach:

DenseLight Semiconductors Pte Ltd: In November 2022, AMF and DenseLight entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop silicon photonics solutions with integrated lasers, aiming to create low-loss, low-cost SiP optical engines with integrated laser light sources.

CMC Microsystems: In June 2018, AMF partnered with CMC Microsystems to develop a new design automation platform for silicon photonics, facilitating faster and more successful prototyping of photonics-based technologies.

Ascenta Technologies: In August 2023, AMF and Ascenta announced the launch of the AMF Visible + Infrared (IR) multi-project wafer (MPW) series, aiming to provide a versatile and functional platform to the photonics community.

Operational Insights

AMF's strategic focus on silicon photonics positions it uniquely in the semiconductor foundry market. By offering specialized platforms and services, AMF differentiates itself from competitors by providing tailored solutions for applications in telecommunications, data centers, LiDAR, and more. The company's commitment to continuous innovation and customer-centric services enhances its competitive advantage.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

AMF is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for silicon photonics solutions. Future directions include:

Expansion of Platform Offerings: Continuing to develop and enhance platforms to support emerging applications in augmented reality, virtual reality, and high-performance computing.

Strengthening Partnerships: Building on existing collaborations and seeking new partnerships to drive innovation and expand market reach.

Investment in R&D: Maintaining a strong focus on research and development to stay at the forefront of silicon photonics technology and meet evolving customer needs.