News: Microelectronics
10 September 2024
GlobalFoundries joins Silicon Catalyst as partner to speed start-ups’ technology development
GlobalFoundries (GF) of Malta, NY, USA has joined the semiconductor startup ecosystem of Silicon Valley-based Silicon Catalyst (the only incubator+accelerator focused exclusively on semiconductor solutions) as a Strategic Partner and an In-Kind Partner (IKP). The partnership will provide innovative start-ups with access to GF’s differentiated platforms to speed the development and commercialization of next-generation IoT, automotive and generative AI applications while anticipating future growth markets such as medical and quantum compute.
As a Strategic Partner, GF will work closely with Silicon Catalyst to recruit, evaluate and select early-stage startups seeking to participate in their program. As a member of the IKP ecosystem, GF will provide access to PDKs, MPWs, foundation IP, and reference designs to accelerate time to market for approved, early-stage companies on GF’s 22FDX, silicon photonics, and gallium nitride (GaN) platforms.
“Our long-standing partnership with GlobalFoundries has been instrumental in bringing our groundbreaking optical I/O solution to market,” comments Mark Wade, CEO & co-founder at Silicon Catalyst alumnus Ayar Labs. “Collaborating with programs like Silicon Catalyst, combined with access to GlobalFoundries’ platforms, enables companies like Ayar Labs to focus on what we do best – pushing the boundaries of AI infrastructure to handle the growing size and complexity of AI models,” he adds.
“By partnering with Silicon Catalyst, we will work with early-stage start-ups, giving us a first-hand view into emerging innovations, to push the boundaries of our differentiated technologies and deliver customized solutions that will give these companies a competitive edge as they go to market,” says GF’s chief technology officer Gregg Bartlett.
“Our partnership provides start-ups a unique opportunity to engage with GF and gain access to their differentiated, cost-effective solutions,” says Silicon Catalyst’s CEO Pete Rodriguez. “This valuable collaboration promises to fuel a new cycle of semiconductor innovation, while helping new companies address the challenges in moving from idea to realization.”
Silicon Catalyst’s ecosystem includes over 350 semiconductor industry advisors, 14 Strategic Partners, seventy In-Kind Partners, an extensive investor network, and strong connections to major domestic and international academic institutions. The collaboration will provide GF access to deep and broad semiconductor industry insight.
At the AI Hardware and Edge AI Summit 2024 in San Jose, CA, USA (9–12 September), three of Silicon Catalyst’s portfolio company CEOs are presenting during the technical sessions. Attendees can also visit the Silicon Catalyst booth at the AI Innovation exhibition area.
