# US Semi Fab SkyWater Seeks to Co-Innovate in Quantum, Photonics, and…Free Silicon?

- Show: [Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby)
- Published: 2022-09-13
- Length: 58m
- Episode: 1
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon
- Listen: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/podcast/us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon/

## Summary

Steven Kosier, CTO of SkyWater Technology, explains the company's unique position as the only US-owned pure-play foundry, focusing on its 'Technology as a Service' model that enables co-innovation in quantum, photonics, and microfluidics. He details the Sky130 open-source project, a collaboration with Google and eFabless that allows anyone to design and manufacture free 130nm silicon ICs, lowering the barrier to entry for chip design. Kosier also discusses SkyWater's specialized facilities, including a Florida site for hybrid integration and a planned innovation center at Purdue University, while highlighting the geopolitical importance of domestic semiconductor manufacturing under the CHIPS Act.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=1) Introduction: Steven Kosier and SkyWater's Mission
- [1:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=63) Kosier's Path to Engineering and Radiation Research
- [13:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=790) The Foundry Model and IDM History
- [21:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=1289) SkyWater's Unique Position and Technology as a Service
- [30:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=1842) Specialized Applications: Rockleaf Photonics and NanodeX
- [33:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=1990) The Sky130 Open Source Project and Free Silicon
- [42:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=2567) Silicon Photonics and Florida Hybrid Integration
- [50:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-09-13-us-semi-fab-skywater-seeks-to-co-innovate-in-quantum-photonics-and-free-silicon#t=3038) Purdue University Innovation Center and Talent Pipeline

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- SkyWater Technology (company)
- Google (company)
- eFabless (company)
- Rockleaf Photonics (company)
- NanodeX (company)
- Purdue University (company)
- Sky130 (other)
- CHIPS Act (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Two and a Half Orders of Magnitude](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-07-12-two-and-a-half-orders-of-magnitude) (The Amp Hour)
- [Discussing the Open Source PDK with Tim Ansell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-07-20-discussing-the-open-source-pdk-with-tim-ansell) (The Amp Hour)
- [Open Source Tapeout with Matthew Venn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-23-open-source-tapeout-with-matthew-venn) (The Amp Hour)
- [Fabless Chip Design with Mohamed Kassem](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-08-02-fabless-chip-design-with-mohamed-kassem) (The Amp Hour)
- [The CHIP Act’s Blind Spot | A Lifeline for Intel | I Just Saw a Face](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-31-the-chip-acts-blind-spot-a-lifeline-for-intel-i-just-saw-a-face) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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