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