Polar Signs Agreement with Renesas to License GaN-on-Si Technology and Onshore Commercial Fabrication of Advanced Devices on 200mm Wafers

Polar Semiconductor (“Polar”), the only U.S.-owned merchant foundry specializing in sensor, power, and high-voltage semiconductors, announced today the finalization of a strategic agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation (“Renesas”) to license their Gallium Nitride on Silicon D-Mode (GaN-on-Si) technology. As part of this agreement, Polar will fabricate High Voltage 650V Class GaN-on-Si devices for Renesas and other customers in its 200mm automotive quality high-volume manufacturing facility in Minnesota. This facility, recently expanded with state-of-the-art processing and automation equipment, is poised to meet growing demand for next-generation semiconductor solutions.

Polar and Renesas will work together to scale commercial production of GaN devices, expanding its use across critical industries, including automotive, data center, consumer, industrial, and aerospace & defense markets. The agreement ensures the U.S. has a reliable, domestic source for this cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

Market adoption of GaN technology will be accelerated through cost efficiency and innovative device architectures enabled by scaling to 200mm fabrication. By leveraging Polar’s manufacturing expertise and Renesas’ proven power semiconductor technology and commercial leadership, this strategic collaboration ensures customers a secure supply of cost-competitive, superior quality, and high-performance GaN device wafers.

Surya Iyer, President and COO of Polar Semiconductor said, “This licensing and commercial production agreement underscores our commitment to strengthening the domestic semiconductor ecosystem. GaN is a game-changing technology for Power and RF, and with Renesas as our partner, we are well-positioned to ramp commercial production, secure key defense programs, and drive the next wave of semiconductor innovation.”

“We are excited to partner with Polar to scale our proven GaN technology to 200mm wafers and leverage our know-how across broad power conversion markets ranging from Infrastructure & AI to Energy & Industrial to e-Mobility & xEVs to high-value IoT,” said Chris Allexandre, SVP & GM, Power Products Group, at Renesas. “This collaboration ensures a strong, U.S.-based manufacturing capability for GaN products, provides multi-sourcing to our customers, and meets the growing demand for high-performance power solutions.”

About Polar Semiconductor

Headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, Polar Semiconductor is the only U.S.-based merchant foundry specializing in sensor, power, and high-voltage semiconductors. With over 60 years of experience in automotive, consumer, and industrial markets, Polar is investing significantly to expand its foundry and introduce cutting-edge technologies. As an automotive-qualified fab, Polar is committed to the highest levels of manufacturing and product quality. For more information, visit polarsemi.com.

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