News: Microelectronics
13 October 2026
Polar collaborates with IC-Link by imec on 8-inch manufacturing of e-mode GaN devices
Polar Semiconductor LLC of Bloomington, MN, USA (the only US-owned foundry specializing in high-voltage, power and sensor semiconductors) and IC-Link by imec (the design and manufacturing division of nanoelectronics research center imec of Leuven, Belgium) are collaborating to provide 8-inch production of enhancement-mode (e-mode) gallium nitride (GaN) devices to serve critical markets such as AI data centers, automotive, aerospace & defense, and the industrial grid.
The new offering is enabled through a license transfer agreement with imec for its GaN-on-silicon process, device and epitaxy to Polar to manufacture e-mode GaN devices at Polar’s power and sensor foundry. The initial agreement focuses on voltage ranges from 40V to 650V, with future expansion towards lower and higher voltages to enable manufacturing at Polar across the GaN power spectrum to serve key market trends such as 800V-to-12V conversion in data centers.
Through IC-Link, customers can gain early access to the GaN technology, allowing them to accelerate development now and move into full manufacturing services. The technology from imec and the service from IC-Link, coupled with Polar’s manufacturing, is targeted at providing a unique prototyping to high-volume production service. Together, IC-Link’s design-to-manufacturing services, and Polar’s commercial reach and manufacturing will provide an integrated offering to its shared customer base.
“This partnership reinforces Polar’s strategy and ongoing investments to establish a leading US-based GaN Center of Excellence, delivering innovative power technologies that strengthen domestic supply chains for critical industries including defense, artificial intelligence, and automotive,” says Polar’s executive chairman Reza Kazerounian. “Given imec’s world-class expertise and leadership in semiconductor innovation, it is the ideal partner to accelerate Polar’s GaN roadmap and technology ambitions,” he reckons.
“Building on more than 15 years of GaN research and development, imec is excited to combine its GaN technology with IC-Link’s design-to-manufacturing services and Polar’s manufacturing capabilities,” says imec’s chief R&D programs & portfolio officer Thomas Piliszczuk. “Together with partners across our international ecosystem, this will create a scalable GaN offering that helps customers accelerate high-efficiency, high-speed power solutions for growing markets including AI and data infrastructure, automotive, industrial systems, aerospace and other adjacent markets.”
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