Fund backed by China memory giant YMTC invests in push for alternative chipmaking route
Guangzhou-based SOI Micro is developing a low-power logic process aimed at easing reliance on overseas technology while strengthening domestic chip capabilities
A venture capital fund backed by Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC), China’s top producer of NAND flash memory, has taken a stake in domestic semiconductor manufacturer SOI Micro, adding a high-profile investor to the country’s push for an alternative chipmaking ecosystem.
Led by a prominent figure in China’s semiconductor industry, SOI Micro is focused on developing fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) technology – a low-power chipmaking technology that offers a complementary route to mainstream processes.
SOI Micro completed a shareholder change on Thursday, according to a recent update on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System. The company’s registered capital increased to 2.53 billion yuan (US$375 million) from 2.39 billion yuan, with the Wuhan-based Changcun Industry Investment Fund appearing as a new shareholder.
The size of Changcun’s investment and its specific stake were not disclosed. SOI Micro did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.