News: Microelectronics
5 February 2025
MACOM European Semiconductor Center wins multi-year contract for France 2030-funded MAGENTA program
MACOM Technology Solutions Inc of Lowell, MA, USA (which designs and makes RF, microwave, analog and mixed-signal and optical semiconductor technologies) says that its France-based European Semiconductor Center (MESC) has been awarded a multi-year contract from French Government agency Banque Publique d’Investissement (BPI) to lead the development and manufacturing of advanced semiconductor products, in collaboration with public and private sector partners.
The MAGENTA program is administered by BPI and financed by the French government within the framework of France 2030 (a €54bn investment plan launched in 2021 to decarbonize the French economy and promote environmentally friendly innovation while supporting future leaders of strategic sectors such as energy, digital technology, health and agriculture).
The MAGENTA program’s goal is to develop next-generation Ka-band monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) front-end products, leveraging MESC’s existing gallium nitride (GaN) technology. A key program focus will be the development of amplifiers with exceptional power-added efficiency that will push the boundaries of high-frequency communications system performance. The products and capabilities developed under the program are intended to support telecom systems in the 5G-FR2 bands and low Earth orbit (LEO) communication systems. Under the terms of the contract, MESC will lead manufacturing of the MMICs developed by MAGENTA partners.
“This noteworthy award will make MESC a stronger partner and supplier to the European Telecommunications and Space markets,” says MACOM’s president & CEO Stephen G. Daly. “The MAGENTA team will collaborate and explore new MMIC design and manufacturing techniques to improve performance of critical global communication systems,” he adds. “We are pleased to have French government support as we build a stronger business in France to support the European market.”
MACOM unveils five-year, $345m plan to expand 100mm GaN and GaAs production and introduce 150mm GaN
MACOM to lead US CHIPS Act-funded GaN-on-SiC technology development project
